Top olive oils from 'top of the Strathbogies'

JUST a few years into a new venture Dijana Cane of Strathbogie Flavors – Marraweeney Olive Grove, won not only silver, bronze and gold medals at the recent Australian Olive Awards 2022, but also took out 'Best in Show' . Though a novice in the olive oil industry, Dijana has taken out the top award at the industry's annual night. Her Manzanillo (Spanish Olive Oil) gained the gold medal, Best in Class, and Best in Show for its beautiful flavor and purity. Dijana's Frantoio Olive Oil (Italian) gained silver awards while her Picual olive oil was awarded bronze. "I was thrilled to take out the top award this year," Dijana said. "I have entered the awards previously and taken out prizes but gaining the 'Best in Show' was a real surprise and honor." The olive groves, sitting on 46 acres of the Strathbogie plateau have proven to be the ideal place for four different olives to grow and produce top quality fruits. "I grow a small number of Kalamata olives as well but these are kept mainly for the table," she said. Dijana purchased the olive groves in 2018 after searching for an investment property. "I originally was looking for an investment cottage to be used as a B&B and fell in love with the Marraweeney place, but along with the cottage came the 46 acres of olive groves," she said. "The property found me, more than I found it. "I knew nothing about growing olives or how to produce olive oils when I purchased the place, but luckily the previous owners stayed on for a while and over the next year instructed me, taught me and helped me with my first production. "They have come back nearly every year to see how I am going and to view the groves again," she said. To maintain the quality of the olive oils produced, Dijana sends her fruit away to a processing plant at Markwood which guarantees everything to be organically produced. "It's important to use an established and reputable processor when marketing this product; you have to guarantee the oils are of the highest quality," she said. The Marraweeney grove consists of around 1000 trees altogether; 400 Frantoio, 300 Picual and 300 Manzanillo, plus a few Kalamata. Dijana has maintained the grove as 'true organic' and is regularly checked by NAASA to ensure the standards are being kept up. Dijana is what you might say 'truly in tune with nature' as well; 'nature has engulfed me' was her comment. She not only produces top quality olive oils, but has a big interest in natural herbs and spices for good health having started her packaged herbs business in Western Australia. She has carried that part of her business through to her Barjarg home and has increased her interest to produce Blackberry leaf tea. "There were so many blackberry bushes on this Barjarg property when I arrived that were going out of control, I decided to have a go at making blackberry leaf tea, which has been very successful," she said. "By pruning the blackberries back regularly it also helps to keep the growth and spreading of this noxious pest in check," she said. "I can guarantee that all my products are organic as I do not use any sprays or pesticides on any of my properties that produce the fruits."