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<pre>Dear Fellow Aussie Olive Growers:

OLIVE OIL YIELDS 2000

Growers have been asking how this season went for other growers, and I
began to wonder if there wasn't a way in which some inf could be put
together for everyone's benefit.

Depending on responses, what I'd like to do is summarise replies and then
post a summary on this Line (probably the olive press after that), on what
sort of season it has been for us all.

By all means reply on this Line or direct to our email address at
<fraspub@albury.net.au>. If you know of growers who don't subscribe to the
OliveLine but who'd like to pass on their details too, don't hesitate to
encourage them.

Now, I'd better give you some credentials. Besides now growing olives and
native timbers in NE Victoria, I've been involved in publishing most of my
life and have done my fair share of writing and editing too.

Anyway, on with the motley. Remember this small survey applies to oil
olives only. So could you please note down answers to as many of the
following as you feel you can. The more we get, the more useful the summary
will be.

1. Which oil varieties have you planted? Quantities? When planted? Soil

type/drainage? Climate? Location of course - nearest town is fine.

(2) How many kgs/tonnes of fruit + oil % per cultivar? If two or more
varieties were pressed together, give best estimate of ratio. Was
the oil Extra Virgin?

(e) When the fruit was pressed, did the processor use additives such as
talc or enzymes (in what amounts?) to assist in the extraction of
the oil? What temperature was used during processing (the operator probably
kept a record of these things), and on what type/size of press?

(g) What was rainfall through the season? Did you irrigate? Did you
withhold water in later weeks?

The price EVOO fetched in NE Vic this season was $25-28 per 375ml. Pretty
good, eh? Was it much the same in other regions?

Any other comments?


All the best.


Ian Fraser & Jenny Davidson
Rutherglen, Vic
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<pre>It's harvesting time in Umbria. Local mill opened on 8th november. Our oil yeld
was 15% about.
The oil quality is excellent.

-----
Antonio Gianno'
janoant@tin.it
http://www.geocities.com/janoant
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