Bumper year for state’s olive growers

IT is a case of both quality and quantity for Tasmanian olive growers this year as they begin to harvest what is shaping up to be a bumper crop.

After low yields last season, growers are happy to see large amounts of fruit on the trees this year as harvesting starts across the state.

For Carol and Tony O’Neil from the award-winning Cradle Coast Olives at Abbotsham in the North-West, it is a busy time.

As well as harvesting olives from their own grove, the couple also press tonnes of olives for other growers.

Mrs O’Neil said harvest had kicked off slightly early.

“It’s has been good so far, we’ve picked one variety already and then we’ll go straight into the others,” she said.

“They’re all ripening a couple of weeks earlier this year, so we’re very busy. There is a lot of fruit this year and the other people we press for are saying the same thing.”

Tasmania’s cool climate is ideal for producing high-quality olive oil, which is what most of this year’s olives will be used for.

Mrs O’Neil said the oil yield this year was higher than normal.

“The oils are up for the early varieties we’ve done so far.

“I think the season probably has a lot to do with it, we’ve had a nice long warm summer.”

Quality is the most important factor in olive oil production and Mrs O’Neil said the oil so far had not disappointed.

“The quality has been unbelievable, we’re blown away.”

“That’s the thing with Tassie olive oil, you can have a good year and then you can have an even better year.”

Harvesting and pressing will continue at the Cradle Coast Olive grove for another couple of months.