Outstanding olive results at the Royal Adelaide Show

Congratulations to the Olive team: Susan Fielke, Dimi Capone, John Fielke, Xingchen Wang.

From the desk of Jason Able:

Olives from John’s debittering process were entered in the 2026 Royal Adelaide Show. At a dinner at the Lakes Resort Hotel on Friday 28 August 2026 it was announced that Adelaide University olives won the following nine awards:-

• THE PAUL EBLEN TROPHY for BEST TABLE OLIVE IN SHOW – Adelaide University Kalamata – “Very good olive flavour. Great salt and acid balance with flavour persisting.”
• Best Kalamata Olives – Adelaide University Kalamata
• Best Green Olives – Adelaide University Hojiblanca
• Gold Medal – Adelaide University Kalamata (87/100)
• Silver Medal – Adelaide University Hojiblanca (84/100
• Silver Medal – Adelaide University Pitted Manzanillo (81/100)
• Silver Medal – Adelaide University Picual (80/100)
• Silver Medal – Adelaide University Leccino (76.7/100)
• Bronze Medal – Adelaide University Mix  (73.9/100)

The olives entered were harvested in early 2025. Adelaide University had in intake of nine different olive varieties from five growing regions in South Australian and Victoria with an intake of 86 T of olives. These olives were debittered at commercial scale with it’s patent pending process at a leased site at Loxton that was previously used by Viva Olives. The process, called “Olives the Australian Way™” (OTAW), creates a fruity tasting olive. The grant is demonstrating that the OTAW process has speed, efficacy and quality (at scale); uses automation to reduce time, costs and risks; is on a path to Zero Waste; and is economically and commercially viable. The project olives are being supplied to the project partners of Mount Zero Olives and Kangaroo Island Olives for sale under their labels.