HOME-grown olive oils will be pitted against their international counterparts as the industry's major competition goes international.
But time is running out for growers to enter with the extended deadline being pushed to close-of-business this Wednesday (September 13). The deadline was extended due to the late season.
Earlier this year the Australian Olive Association (AOA) board endorsed the Australian Olive Awards Committee’s recommendation to elevate the status of the AOA annual olive competition to an international event.
The newly named, Australian International Olive Awards boasts a new logo and categories to include extra virgin olive oil, flavoured oils and table olives integrated into the same schedule at the same event.
The new competition has replaced the Australian National Olive Competition which ran for 21 years and was the oldest and largest competition in Australia.
Recognising the earlier harvest date of northern hemisphere oils, the new international competition will judge northern and southern hemisphere entries separately however all gold medal oils will be eligible for the coveted Best EVOO of Show and Best Table Olives of Show Awards.
Major award categories include:
- Best Northern Hemisphere Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives,
- Best Southern Hemisphere Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives,
- Best Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives
- Best EVOO and Table Olives of Show
There will also be other “champion” prizes in every category.
The judging team consists of domestic and internationally experienced judges and experts.
The AOA said judges' refresher and benchmarking training will be an integral part of the competition framework, ensuring the highest level of judging consistency across all classes.
This will occur on the day before official judging commences.
Full details and online entry are available on the dedicated website.
Winners will be announced at the awards gala presentation dinner on October 10, held in conjunction with the 2017 AOA National Olive Industry Conference & Trade Exhibition in Adelaide, South Australia.