The current COVID-19 social distancing requirements saw the cancellation of the final TasteBook®/OliveCare® Sensory Training Workshop, scheduled for Queensland on 4 April.
Those registered have been invited to join the TasteBook® program’s combined Rounds 6 and 7, for an alternative sensory learning opportunity undertaken remotely via online interaction from your own premises.
Kalamata and flavoured oils focus
TasteBook® Rounds 6 and 7 is being presented as a combined ‘mega round’ focussing on both Kalamata table olives and flavoured oils, providing a veritable ‘feast for the senses’.
Participants receive a selection of Kalamata table olives and flavoured oil samples, all from top Australian producers, providing a mega-tasting and learning experience in the one delivery. The sample kits are sent via Australia Post, with the online response survey accessed via a provided link – an ideal format for our current ‘stay-at-home’ requirements.
Project Leader Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay said that, while past rounds of the program have been enthusiastically embraced, feedback from earlier TasteBook® participants has also reflected that some miss the guidance provided during a physical face-to-face learning experience.
In response, she has created two short training videos to assist with remote sensory training and to ‘walk’ people through the tasting process for table olives and flavoured oils respectively. She has made the videos available online and invites both participants and others interested in olive sensory appreciation to watch at their convenience. You can access the table olive video here and the flavoured oils video here.
Both TasteBook® rounds are included in the one cost of $40 for levy payers, $50 for non-levy payers and international participants, with registration available here.
Tastebook® is part of the Hort Innovation Olive Fund R&D project Australian olive industry sensory training program. For further details, please contact Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay on 0409 283 581 or via email at soumi.paul.mukhopadhyay@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
