The first planting of an olive grove in Central Otago on an orchard basis was in the mid-90s, says Central Otago Olive Growers member Steve Clark, but an exceptionally severe winter that year destroyed the tender saplings.

Despite the setback, growers at the time were confident that the Central Otago climate that helps produce award-winning wines could also produce superb olive oil, as both come from fruits closely aligned in European climes.

Steve attended the first annual general meeting of Central Otago Olive Growers (COOG) in August 1999, and was also one of the almost 50 current members of COOG at a community pressing day at Pisa, Cromwell, on Saturday (May 13).

Olivia Morris stokes a brazier early on Saturday morning. PHOTO: Tracie Barrett

It was a cold start to the day but blazing braziers were welcome beacons of warmth until the sun burned off the inversion layer, and warmth was supplied internally by pumpkin soup (even better with a drizzle of olive oil), home baking and pizzas made on site in a gas-powered portable pizza oven.

Raff Agalliu provided freshly made pizzas aided by his son Charlie (12). PHOTO: The Central App

The event, which was held for the third subsequent year at the home of Steve Morris and his wife Olivia, is an opportunity for those with just a few or even no olive trees to learn about the harvest and pressing process. 

Those with trees bring their olives to contribute to the community pressing and will get a commensurate share of the oil, while those without can help harvest the trees on the property and go away with a bottle of last year’s Community Day blend, which won a silver medal at the 2022 New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards.

Steve and Olivia won a gold medal for their own oil, sold under the label Ollie’s Oils, and fellow COOG members and neighbours Sandy Black and Jocelyn Robinson also took gold for their Dunford Grove oil.

About 70 people attended on Saturday, including children and dogs, with 555kg of olives put through the onsite press.

Steve Morris, who also runs the press, said last year’s medal, in the Boutique Intense - Blends category, came as a surprise, especially as the olives came from trees all over the region. 

Olivia said people love the story of the Community Day oil.

“We were at the Arrowtown Autumn Festival three weeks ago and people might have slightly preferred the taste of other oils but they wanted to support the Community Day,” she said.

Two of those who heard that story at Arrowtown were Charlie Muschamp and Beth Lazenby, both of Wānaka. The two young women attended the pressing day on Saturday wanting to learn all they could while there.

“My life goal is to be an olive farmer one day,” Charlie said.

“We were interested in the process, how the olives grow and how they are processed,” Beth added.

The COOG members were happy to share that knowledge with the women and everyone else who attended, and to sign up a few new members in the process.