Over its lifetime, Matakana Olive Co-operative encompassed between four and ten groves, ranging in size from 1200 trees down to a few hundred, with a total of around 2,500 trees. Members maintained and harvested their own groves, with the oil pressed at the one mill. The combined oil stock was evaluated, filtered, stored and bottled by members in a central purpose-built facility, and sold under the Matakana Olive Co-operative label, with members paid from the net proceeds of sales based on their percentage of the total for the harvest period.

Run as a collective, the Matakana Olive Co-operative provided a shared-cost, viable production and distribution model for a regional group of boutique olive oil producers.

Join David Sullivan as he shares his experience of this successful olive co-operative in practice.

Presented by: David Sullivan, Mahurangi Olives

David Sullivan is co-owner (together with Isabella Sullivan) of Mahurangi Olives (New Zealand) and the major supplier of award-winning extra virgin olive oil to Matakana Olive Co-operative for more than 10 years. The co-op recently recalibrated due to a change in circumstances for some members, and Mahurangi Olives is now a stand-alone business focusing on the production of artisan products.

This webinar series is part of the Olive levy project Australian olive industry communications and extension program (OL22000), funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation olive research and development levy, co-investment from the Australian Olive Association and contributions from the Australian Government.