HOA Newsletter Dec 22
HUNTER OLIVE ASSOCIATION OLIVE OIL MARKETING DAY
On Sunday November 20th 2022, was our first indoor Hunter Olive workshop since Covid. Steve Mitchell organised the workshop with most emphasis on olive oil appreciation, to give members, who are producing olive oil more knowledge of what is judged to be a good oil.
Increasingly, Australians are buying local, and we must be able to show, and teach them the benefits. There had been interest expressed by some members about learning the art of tasting with a view to being able to judge in a show. Steve would encourage this.
Usually people don’t get to taste before they buy a product, so the remainder of the day focussed on presentation, bottling and labelling to attract attention as well as fulfil requirements of food safety.
Promotion of our product involves some advertising, increasingly through social media, Mike Wilson spoke on this.
Steve then, briefly brought in the less enjoyable aspects of government regulations, present at all levels of marketing our products.
Our guest speaker, Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay, has judged olive oils internationally as well as at the AOA competition, and Sydney Fine Food Show. She was head judge at our HOA olive show. She brought with her the winning oil from the recent New Zealand show, some top oils from Australia, also a few bad oils for us to be able to identify defects.
Two attendees, Elizabeth Williams and Jason Hollard, brought their own oils for appreciation. Also present were Angela Lee, Robin Brigden, Sharn Hunkin (an experienced judge himself) and Jim and Marie Kearns.
Soumi moved us through an array of oils from young, robust with powerful aroma to more mellow oils with complex aromas and lingering aftertaste. It was a most interesting day, in an area we will have to concentrate on in a competitive market.
Steve is working at a follow up day after harvest where members will bring their own ,new oils for appreciation.
Many thanks to Steve Mitchell and Soumi Paul Mukopadhyay for sharing their expertise with us with us.
Increasingly, Australians are buying local, and we must be able to show, and teach them the benefits. There had been interest expressed by some members about learning the art of tasting with a view to being able to judge in a show. Steve would encourage this.
Usually people don’t get to taste before they buy a product, so the remainder of the day focussed on presentation, bottling and labelling to attract attention as well as fulfil requirements of food safety.
Promotion of our product involves some advertising, increasingly through social media, Mike Wilson spoke on this.
Steve then, briefly brought in the less enjoyable aspects of government regulations, present at all levels of marketing our products.
Our guest speaker, Dr Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay, has judged olive oils internationally as well as at the AOA competition, and Sydney Fine Food Show. She was head judge at our HOA olive show. She brought with her the winning oil from the recent New Zealand show, some top oils from Australia, also a few bad oils for us to be able to identify defects.
Two attendees, Elizabeth Williams and Jason Hollard, brought their own oils for appreciation. Also present were Angela Lee, Robin Brigden, Sharn Hunkin (an experienced judge himself) and Jim and Marie Kearns.
Soumi moved us through an array of oils from young, robust with powerful aroma to more mellow oils with complex aromas and lingering aftertaste. It was a most interesting day, in an area we will have to concentrate on in a competitive market.
Steve is working at a follow up day after harvest where members will bring their own ,new oils for appreciation.
Many thanks to Steve Mitchell and Soumi Paul Mukopadhyay for sharing their expertise with us with us.
Wishing all members a Happy Christmas season
and a bountiful olive harvest for 2023,
Marie Kearns
HOA President