Australian olive growers begin harvest with mixed expectations

Due to low crop yields, some Australian growers have started harvesting earlier. However, others have reported more favorable outcomes and are planning to begin picking their olives in April. Michael Southan, the chief executive of the Australian Olive Association, confirmed that the harvest will be slightly down from last year. “In some areas, flowering was good, but the fruit set was not so good,” he told Olive Oil Times. ​“The large groves look like they will have expected yields.” “The main challenges will be the perennial ones of having the availability of contract harvesters for the smaller groves and contract processors,” he added. Amanda Bailey, a committee member of the Australian Olive Oil Association, confirmed that some producers were affected by adverse weather conditions during flowering, fluctuations in temperature and other environmental variables. She said this had reduced crops across many of Australia’s olive-growing regions. The Australian Olive Oil Association ...