Mardie's Australian Olive Products are now starting to appear on selected shop shelves in country New South Wales , when, in actual fact the project was first initiated in 1995.

Mardie & John Bucknell of Grenfell NSW in 1997 recognised the fact two of their sons would be coming back on the family farm despite attaining University degrees.   To allow for their progression to run the farm Mardie & John began investigating the possibility of growing a product which would not involve a great deal of land and could be value-added by themselves and an income in semi-retirement.

After considerable research, enquiries and attending Field Days, Olives resulted as the preferred option. In September 1998 and 1999 they planted some 2,500 trees, in all, half oil  and half table olive varieties.   In 2000 Mardie was finally happy with some marinades she had been testing and adapting for some time and sold her first "commercial"  table olives at the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts.   Although not her own olives, the 85kg of marinated olives sold out within a matter of three hours.

The Festival was again used for market research in 2001 using the first crop of their own marinated olives.  Again a complete sell-out within a matter of hours with several customers stating they had travelled from Canberra, Sydney and local towns to buy.

They also launched two other products with all natural ingredients, except for the perfume.   "Olive" soap and "Hand and Body' cream.  Only Australian olive oil being used.   Both products were an instant success and are sold to clients in Victoria, Queensland, Sydney, Newcastle and the south coast as well as the country outlets.  

This year, 2002 Mardie's Australian Olive Products now offers Extra Virgin cold pressed Olive Oil pressed from their own olives.  It can be purchased in 375ml bottles or 2 litre tins.  This year was an exceptionally successful harvest with 1010 litres of "Manzanillo" and "Paragon" oil resulting from the pressings.

Six tonnes of table olives were processed with the help of their sons and daughters-in-law, in their newly built production shed and four types of marinated olives are available being offered.    "Coriander, garlic & Chillie"; "Basil, Lime and Garlic"; "Oregano, Chillie and Garlic"; and last but not least "Sun-dried Tomatoes, Honey, & Rosemary".   In the near future they will be releasing "Smoked Olives".    The olives are cryovaced which makes for easier packaging and no eliminates the risk of broken glass. There are no preservatives or artificial colours used.

 "Black Olive Dip" was the new release this year at the Festival and sold out before lunch.  From the orders being received it also is very popular.

 The "Olive" soap and "Hand & Body" cream is in constant demand.

 Because outlets are only established in Greenfell, Forbes, Cowra, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Orange, Leura, Malawa (Vic) and Narrandera orders from other area are accepted by mail, phone or fax and dispatched within two days of the order being received.

 The marinated olives and dip are made up at regular intervals resulting in a gourmet "fresh" product.   The Oil is also bottled and put into the tins as the orders are received.

 "Our aim is to produce a quality product at a price to accommodate most people" Mardie said.   "We want most Australians to enjoy the products of the olive and their health benefits, we are not aiming at the "Boutique" market.    The Australian public is much more aware of Olives and Olive Oil thanks to its promotion by chefs and health people in the media.   Australian Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Olive Oil is an extremely high quality product and it is about time Australian people enjoyed the benefits of Australian Olive Oils.

 Our Table Olives, are being eaten by people who in the past wouldn't eat olives.   Don't have a closed mind to table olives, taste the Australian product and you will be amazed by the difference."

 Mardie's Australian Olive Products will be for sale on the "Coonamble Country Living" weekend at John & Alison Dent's 

Contact:  Mardie's Australian Olive Products,

               "Elambone"

              GRENFELL    N.S.W.   2810

 Telephone  [02] 6343 7156   E-mail:  mardie@tpg.com.au   or  FAX  [02] 6343 7116