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<pre>The choice of varieties for Oz and NZ is obviously going to be difficult
but from the list given, John, you seem to be planting a lot of table
varieties. Will they produce oil and will it be good quality? If you
are more interested in oil do you want quality or quantity? Finally
what sort of risk are you prepared to take? Relatively unknown oil
varieties may perform brillantly in NZ and the established ones may
prove a disaster but I know which bet I would prefer to take.

Cheers Brian Chatterton.
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<pre>Dear Stan:

Do you have a contact telephone number for Professor Kiritsakis in Greece? I
am importing table olives (the best I have ever tasted) from a small
Agricultural Cooperative in Greece and they are trying to expand into
Organic EVOO. I tasted their first attempt and, believe me, they need all
the help they can get. I have suggested to them that they hire the services
of an olive oil expert. Do you think that Professor Kiritsakis will be the
appropriate person to refer to them?

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Constantine

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<pre>Group:

I think Brian omitted a couple of very important, fundamental considerations
new olive growers should add to their "check list".

1) Profit:
Do you want/need to make a profit (see pg 145 of the olive manual if/when
in California and intend to produce olive for oil - 20% is what it takes
in California, not Italy or AU. Prospective growers should always project
the % oil at various yields needed to be profitable - see attached) and,
what level of profit do you expect?

2) non-profit:
Or, are you in it simply for the "passion/romance of producing EVOO olive
oil"? That is, money is not a limited resource.

Attached is a cost study we prepared in California for prospective North
Coast (Napa Valley) olive growers interested in oil production. Those
getting into the business might consider using this as a "worksheet" by
putting in their own specifications and projected costs (don't use CA costs)
in the column provided (note, in this study land is very expensive due to
its location and ability to produce wine grapes. Simply change the land cost
to reflect one's situation - surprisingly it doesn't change things that
much).

Hope this helps.

Steve Sibbett
U.C. Farm Advisor
Phone - office 559.733.6486
Mobil 559.280.0666
FAX 559.734.2708

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<pre>Following on from Brian's words of wisdom I wish to add my own. I
believe that Australia has a wonderful opportunity to become a major
international olive oil producer.

However unless the cultural aspects of the olive are encompassed by all
the players (growers and processors alike), rather than only the
commercial aspects, then the 3rd try at developing and Australian
industry is doomed.

I wish to make a number of personal observations and comments

¥ The main game is olive oil and table olives

¥ Marketing olive products needs as much energy or even more than olive
growing

¥ Olives and olive oil have a 6000 year history so we are new chums at
the
game

¥ With only 200 years of scattered experience with the olive mistakes
will be made

¥ In the past Australian government agricultural agencies provide
growers with the support required.

Look at the effort put into eg canola, lupens, apples, bush foods and
the research dollars. I would have to say that from my experience that
most of these agencies have been luke warm towards the olive. And they
have been dragged into the industry rather than being the champions.

¥ Now getting to the point

1. Olives grow best in a Mediterranean Climate (cool wet winters and hot
dry summers) - this has been proven by time. Outside such a climate
problems will occur. And in Australia the worst has yet to be revealed.
One can argue about microclimates to justify planting olives just about
anywhere. But we are talking about an Industry, not just growing the
olive tree.

2. Regarding varieties - Because of the lack of a formal research and
educational base and a lack of industry leadership with the olive (just
compare with the grape) olive growers are greatly disadvantaged. More
research effort needs to be put into varieties and homoclimes so that
plantings have some semblance of scientific assessment.

As it takes up to 10 years to ascertain the real commercial viability of
a specific variety, it is imperative to get the best possible advice
from those working and researching in the international scene (Spain,
Italy and Greece). I believe the Australian olive industry did not pay
enough attention to this. Trials like NOVA, Olives Australia, mine in WA
are long term and only of marginal value in the immediate.

This year our University held its 3rd (6 day) International Olive School
(held annually) and the Fourth Cultural and Scientific Symposium) where
we explore all the issues with international speakers. Over past 3-4
years we have had an impressive line up of presenters Dr Louise Ferguson
(USA), Prof Apostolos Kiritsakis (Greece), Dr Joan Tous (Spain), Dr
Maurizio Lambardi (Italy), Carlo Costa (South Africa), Prof
John-Baptiste Lesourd (France), Michael Ponder (NZ) and others from
Australia. We average 3O participants at each School and 100 or more
participants at the symposia.

Next years school, the fourth is planned to be held in November in
Tuscany, with the assistance of a number of Universities and research
centres. I believe our school could be used as a model for Australia.

3. There has been a lot of criticism by Australian olive growers
regarding the poor advice they have received from Australian sources,
the mislabelling of olive trees and the confusion between varieties.
This will change when proper varietal identifications and assessments
are made. On a positive note, apart from a few individuals and the
Greeks and Italians, the champions of the Australian Olive Industry have
been the Australian Olive Nurseries and without them the Australian
industry would be going nowhere. And so they should be congratulated.


Stan Kailis


I have said in previous entries that one must take an international
perspective with respect to varieties. Again I have indicated that there
are many experts around that will happily advise and fly away from your
problems.
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Steve,

Thanks for the post, unfortunately attachments are stripped when posted to this
group.

Could you please send me a copy of the cost study please, as an attachment and
preferably in Excel (any version).

Trust you had a good fishing trip?

Regards,

Phil Bramley

Phil:

Here it is. I wish growers (i.e. prospective growers) would consider
economics carefully for their own situation rather than listen to those that
have an economic incentive for promoting olives and that are usually
somewhat far removed.

Let me know if this works. Maybe you can pass it along locally.

Steve Sibbett
U.C. Farm Advisor
Phone - office 559.733.6486
Mobil 559.280.0666
FAX 559.734.2708

Thanks Steve, you must be burning the midnight oil (no pun intended).

You will need to send it to my offline email address otherwise it will come
through the olive discussion group and the attachment will be stripped off.

Please send to : bramleyp@one.net.au

Many thanks

Phil Bramley

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<pre>> Following on from Brian's words of wisdom I wish to add my own. I
> believe that Australia has a wonderful opportunity to become a major
> international olive oil producer.
>
> However unless the cultural aspects of the olive are encompassed by all
> the players (growers and processors alike), rather than only the
> commercial aspects, then the 3rd try at developing and Australian
> industry is doomed.

This has become quite an interesting thread of late, so I'd like to pose a
question.

What do the various authorities think would be the more suitable oil species
for Australia?

I have a new grove to plant in the Hunter Valley and am now drawing up plans
and taking cuttings to grow new stock. The currently available trees which I
intend to use are Corrigiolla, Paragon and Nevadillo for oil, and as I have
had very good response to Azapa, some of these for pickling.

So the question is : which other oil species, and are they available? I have
space for another 300 or so trees.

Regards,

Mike Wilson.
Hunter Valley, Australia.
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Steve,

I think Stan Kailis sums up our situation pretty well when he says that there
has not been much help from government agencies in helping the olive industry (
third try) in Australia. He also highlights the point that olive nurseries
have taken the lead in educating new growers. Full marks to Olives Australia
for their role in hand-holding newbies to the industry in Australia.

With the assistance of the olive discussion group we have a better chance of
getting it right and learn quickly from any mistakes previously made.

Regards,

Phil Bramley

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<pre>Professor Kailis

Thanks for saying something nice (finally) about the work and dedication shown
by the Australian nurseries. We would definitely have problems if we had not
had the help we have enjoyed.

Graham and Margaret White
Fordwich Olive Farm, Hunter Valley
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