Medal winning ELOVI extra virgin olive oil – Tasman Bay Olives maintained its unbroken run of medal winners at every competition sponsored by Olives New Zealand since 2001.The Annual Conference was held in Nelson in October 2005 and our oils won a gold and two silver medals.

We continue to showcase our oil at the annual Los Angeles County Fair in May and won two silver medals.

Our grove and Shop/Press complex have hosted the following media representatives in 2005 showcasing our oils to the world through the medium of television and print media:

· Chinese Television for broadcasting in Hong Kong and Southern China.
· Malaysian Television
· Television New Zealand for its “Rural Delivery” programme scheduled for screening early 2006.
· Destination New Zealand series screening on Air New Zealand long-haul flights. Also screening in Hong Kong and scheduled for Australian television early in 2006.
· John Blanchette US food and wine writer providing stories to around 250 newspapers countrywide.

Olives New Zealand have established in 2005 a Quality Assurance programme that involves the application of International Quality Guidelines for certifying that olive oils qualify for extra virgin status .When the required testing has been carried out the grower is then able to display the red certificate (“Olivemark”) on the olive oil marketed. This certification helps provide assurance that the product is try to its labeling and complies with International Guidelines. Tasman Bay Olives is pleased to have been part of this certification programme and support its continued application. All ELOVI oil bears the red Olivemark.

During the first six months of 2005 Roger Armstrong Tasman Bay’s Production Director developed a new concept in olive harvesting machines. The prototype trailed very successfully in our own groves in July 2005 and after further trailing planned for the 2006 harvest will be further modified if necessary to be ready for manufacture for the 2007 harvest. This has been a major development and will provide a very efficient method of harvest reducing the labour content while still ensuring the olives arrive at the press in top condition. The harvester has minimal effect on the trees mainly because it does not involve tree shaking.

Late in 2004 we started to market a gift pack containing ELOVI extra virgin olive oil,ELOVI dukkah and two white sauce dishes for the two ingredients. This pack has proved very popular in the corporate gift market leading up to Christmas 2005.

During 2005 ELOVI premium oils have been marketed into the United States through a well-known retail chain operating throughout the USA and into Canada. New Zealand oils are relatively new in this market and we are confident that the unique taste of New Zealand oils augurs well for the further development of this market in 2006 and beyond.

New Zealand Creative Tourism has developed creative workshops designed for the tourist market. They are designed to explore Kiwi skills and passions and to discover the local way of life.Roger Armstrong conducts a half-day workshop, which covers growing and pruning olive trees through to the pressing and blending, and of course tasting of oils. The workshop explains the whole magical process and also enables participants the chance to create their own unique blend of oils.

Outlook for 2006

The three groves comprising Tasman Bay Olives are all showing a prolific flowering and provided we experience reasonable weather over the pollination period in December/January we can anticipate a very large crop. The growing conditions have been ideal. November was one of the driest for many years and suited the olive trees very well.

We will provide an update when the harvest results are known in July when we will also be able to report on the quality of the 2006 harvest.