MEDIA RELEASE

Immediate Release 3 September 2013

Victorian Olives are Golden at the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards
Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria announces 2013 Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards Medal Winner Results: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Table Olives and Flavoured Oil

Victorian olive producers swept the board at the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards (RMFFA) taking home 76 medals in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Table Olives and Flavoured Oil categories. A bumper year for Australian olive harvests boosted entry numbers attracting a total of 144 entries from 54 producers across Australia. Hosted annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) the RMFFA awarded 116 medals in the Olive Oil, Table Olives and Flavour Oil categories; 17 gold, 41 silver and 58 bronze. Salut Oliva was the top performing Victorian producer in the Table Olives category taking home a gold, silver and bronze medal for its Kalamata Olives, Manzanillo Olives and Semi Dried Manzanillo Olives respectively. A stand out entry in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil category was the 2012 winner of the RMFFA Champion Boutique Class Oil, Hojiblanca from Lisadurne Hill, Victoria, which returned to claim a gold medal for the second consecutive year. Alto Olives from New South Wales took home an incredible 14 medals; five in the Table Olives category, seven in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil classes and two for its Mandarin and Lemon Flavoured Oils. RASV CEO Mark OSullivan said, On behalf of the RASV, I congratulate all medal winners. The Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards promotes and celebrates excellence across the fine food industry, recognising boutique producers, regional specialists and commercial manufacturers. All entrants benefit from industry insight and benchmarking from high calibre judges, providing medal winners a valuable opportunity to promote and market products under the awards seal of quality and excellence, said Mr OSullivan. The prestigious RMFFA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Table Olives and Flavoured Oil judging panels included Nino Zoccali (Pendolino and La Rosa Bar and Pizza), Jenny Birrell (Oliv, Hawthorn and author of Boundary Blend), Margaret Edwards (Matiatia Grove, NZ), Michele Sheward (Paradox Olive Grove), Pablo Canamasas (Boundary Blend), Westerly Isbaih (Alto Olives), Leandro Ravetti (Boundary Blend), Margi Kirkby (Gwydir Grove), Ruth Sutherland (Robert Oatley Olive Oil), Stephen Mitchell (Lisborne Park), Jenny Polak (Wine Whitch) Sue Thompson (Camilo) and Sue Tham (accredited Olive Oil judge). This year, trophy winners of the RMFFA Spring categories will be announced at an exclusive cocktail event during the Royal Melbourne Show on Monday, 23 September 2013.

To experience award-winning produce from the RMFFA, visit the Tastes of Victoria Pavilion at the 2013 Royal Melbourne Show, on from Saturday, 21 September to Wednesday, 2 October 2013. [ENDS] Note to editors Full list of medal winners available upon request Visit http://www.rasv.com.au/Events/RMFF_Home/ and follow us on Twitter at @RMFFA for information regarding the RMFFA

For all media enquiries, please contact Wrights on behalf of the RASV (03 9690 9911): Vanessa Hollidge, Account Manager, Wrights PR, 0405 277 562 / vhollidge@wrights.com.au Jess Jafer, Senior Account Executive, Wrights PR, 0403 042 855 / jjafer@wrights.com.au