News-Awards
New awards, new opportunities to win, at 2022 Australian International Olive Awards Long recognised as Australia’s premiere national olive competition, the Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is rapidly cementing its place among the most respected on the international stage. Since ‘going international’ in 2017, the AIOA has increased its global status as a high-quality competition, and is in turn providing increased recognition and promotion for winning producers across Australia and beyond. Competition Convenor and Chief Steward Trudie Michels said overseas producers are increasingly keen to achieve in AIOA success. “We’ve already had a lot of interest via email from international producers,” she said. “The greater profile of the competition internationally meant we saw an increase in overseas entries last year and it’s definitely growing with each competition. And of
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course with more international entries, there’s more talk about the competition and more promotion of their AIOA awards, so word just keeps on spreading. “Our international judging panels are also great ‘ambassadors’ for the competition. Each year we get feedback about how impressed they are with the calibre and quality of entries, and they’re obviously sharing that with their industry peers and colleagues. “That’s helping to raise the profile of the competition, and also the reputation of the Australian olive industry.”
The growing popularity of the competition has seen the organising committee make some adjustments to this year’s format, adding new categories to further recognise the wide range of producers entering their products. “We’ve had a very positive response to the introduction of separate boutique and commercial volume categories for the Best EVOO of Show award, so we’ve decided to extend that to flavoured oil and table olive entries,” Michels said. “So from this year we will have two additional major awards, and will be presenting Best Flavoured Olive Oil Of Show - Boutique Volume and Best Flavoured Olive Oil Of Show - Commercial Volume, and Best Table Olive Of Show - Boutique Volume and Best Table Olive Of Show - Commercial Volume. “It recognises the very different methodologies and challenges of small and large scale producers, and provides the opportunity to award the successes of both at each competition. “And of course it gives entrants an event greater chance of winning one of the ‘business-changing’ major awards.”
Production calculation 2022 AIOA Awards Presentation – we’re doing dinner again!
Individual results including medals will be emailed to all entrants in early October, so if you’re a Gold medal winner you’ll know then that you’re in the running for a major award – maybe even one of the coveted AIOA Best of Show titles. And the great news is that we’re all getting together again for the announcement of the 2022 AIOA major awards at the Awards Presentation Dinner, being held in conjunction with the National Industry Conference & Exhibition in Devonport, Tasmania. The event is always a great night of food, wine and festivities, as we celebrate the achievements of this year’s most successful producers - and the fabulous EVOOs, flavoured oils and table olives they’ve produced. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the fun and celebrations: whether you’re a winner or not, you’ll have a great time. Book your tickets on the Conference website -www.nationaloliveconference.com.au. 12 • Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor • June 2022 • Issue 124
Michels confirmed that the AIOA Best in Show awards are calculated on the producer’s total grove production, rather than the volume of the oil or olives that was entered. The cut-off points for these awards are therefore: • Boutique EVOO producer: 0-5000 litres TOTAL EVOO production • Commercial EVOO producer: 5001+ litres TOTAL EVOO production • Boutique flavoured olive oil producer: 0-2000 litres TOTAL flavoured oil production • Commercial flavoured olive oil producer: 2001+ litres TOTAL flavoured oil production
