Australian Olive Oil Seeks Local Buyers
The olive industry has launched a new campaign to try to boost sales of locally-grown extra virgin olive oil.
Australia still imports up to 40,000 tonnes of extra virgin olive oil each year. Growers have started signing up to the industry's first Code of Practice, which guarantees the quality of local oil.
John Forrest, from the Australian Olive Oil Association, says it's also launched a consumer awareness campaign.
"At the moment, we're a small percentage of the oil sold in Australia," he says.
"We're producing somewhere around 15,000 tonnes of oil. "Of the tonnage we produce, about 25 per cent is sold overseas.
"Australia is the second largest consumer of olive oil outside the Mediterranean region.
"Our ambition is to increase sales of Australian extra virgin olive oil to the consumer."
More information regarding the Code of Practice is available on the AOA Website: