Press Release October 2006

Morgenster - the shining star at SA Olive Awards

Morgenster 's star literally shone at the recent SA Olive Industry Association awards ceremony held at Laborie Estate when Gerrie Duvenhage was presented with the trophy for Achiever of the Year, and Morgenster received the trophy Award for Best Table Olives.

Gerrie has been associated in the South African Olive industry for over sixteen years, during which he has played a pivotal role in all aspects of the contributing and adding value to each key segment of the value chain.

He started his involvement with the industry at the Research Institute in 1990, and was then scooped up by Mr Giulio Bertrand - owner of Morgenster Estate, where he enlisted Gerrie's services in his quest to transform the South African Olive Industry and achieve his dream to produce the very best Extra Virgin Olive Oil in South Africa.

Gerrie has traveled to Italy on several occasions and was instrumental, in conjunction with Giulio Bertrand and Prof Giuseppe Fontanazza in selecting the very best Italian cultivars to be imported into South Africa, which has formed the platform on which this dream is being built. The new cultivars have been firmly established at the Morgenster nursery and are successfully transforming the olive industry by providing superior plant material to put the industry on track to become an internationally recognized competitor.

An integral part of Gerrie's role in managing the nursery is as a consultant to aspiring olive farmers advising them on all aspects from soil preparation, selection of cultivars, fertilization, pruning, harvesting, processing of both oil and table olives and maintenance of equipment.

Not only has Gerrie played a pivotal role in the SAOlive Association; serving on the committee for more than 10 consecutive years, he has also been especially active in the field of organizing tasting panels, tutored courses in olive oil tasting and has on several occasions been involved in bringing international presenters of the highest caliber to South Africa; building a cornerstone of industry expertise.
Eight consecutive years of top local and international recognition have established Morgenster's reputation as a producer of ultra premium olive products and bear testament to Gerrie's expertise. This year alone, Morgenster has been awarded: L'Orciolo d'oro - winner for 8 successive years, Gold medal at LA County fair as well as being voted Best Certified Quality Blended Olive Oil in the World at L' Extravergine held in Rome late last year.

The international recognition garnered by these awards has also positioned South Africa as an acknowledged producer of the very best quality extra virgin olive oil, and opened many doors for Morgenster to markets across the globe including UK, USA, China, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and France to name just a few.

From the man himself:" I am extremely proud to be the recipient of this prestigious award as the South African Olive industry is growing at an encouraging rate with many producers entering the market and producing superb products"

To make the evening more spectacular, Morgenster received the trophy Award for Best Table Olives.

The Morgenster Product Range is available at selected Delicatessens, Caterix Cape Town, Pick 'n Pay, Spar and Shoprite Checkers stores in the Western Cape, greater Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, the Eastern Cape, and now available in Natal and the Lowveld.

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