Some businesses start with an idea, some with frustration, and some with innovation. At every stage, there are people behind that idea doing the work to make it happen.
The SA Olive Awards put those people and their work in the spotlight in Paarl, Western Cape, recognising achievements across the industry, from Agri Worker of the Year and Lifetime Achievement honours to bronze, silver and gold awards for Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs).
Industry leaders also spoke about opportunities for Mzansi’s olive products in new international markets and the need to protect local quality standards.
SA olive industry: Quality, freshness, and provenance
South Africa’s olive industry is facing a tougher global market as olive oil supply recovers and international prices come down, according to SA Olive chairman Richard Allen.
Allen said lower prices are putting pressure on smaller producers, making production efficiency across orchard management, harvesting and processing increasingly important.
He said South African producers cannot compete with the volumes coming out of Europe, but on other levels.
“What we can do, and what we are already doing, is to win on the things that volume can’t buy: quality, freshness, and provenance.”
SA Olive chairman Richard Allen
Chief executive officer of SA Olive Wendy Petersen said the industry is also looking at how its products measure up against international standards.
International judges from Brazil and Turkey joined this year’s awards, with Petersen saying they had noted the improvement in the standard and quality of South African olive oils over the years.
Before the awards, the judges took part in a training session where they tasted international oils to calibrate the panel and expose producers to products from other markets.
Petersen said SA Olive is planning a project later this year to further assess South African olive oils against international standards.
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Celebrating quality EVOO and the people behind it
Former AgriSA executive director Christo van der Rheede has urged South Africa’s olive industry to protect its reputation for quality and integrity as new markets create opportunities for local producers.
Van der Rheede said growing populations, urbanisation and rising middle classes in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are driving demand for premium and healthy foods, creating opportunities for olive products.
He said South Africa has several strengths to build on, including agricultural expertise, strong production standards, food safety systems, counter-seasonal production and a growing reputation for quality.
“Do not compromise on integrity. Do not compromise on trust.”
Christo van der Rheede
Van der Rheede said sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in agriculture, with the olive industry well placed to respond through climate resilience, regenerative agriculture, efficient water use and sustainable trade.
He noted that these strengths should be used to position South African olive products for emerging international markets.
That focus on the industry also extends to the people working in it, with Denise Bergman, a worker at Het Vlock Casteel in Riebeek Kasteel, among the winners in the 2026 Agri Worker of the Year category at the SA Olive Awards.
For Bergman, being a good agricultural worker is about more than working hard. She said it means taking pride in your work, being reliable, willing to learn and giving your best even when things get difficult. It also means going the extra mile, helping others and being part of a team.
“This award means the world to me. It is a great honour to be recognised as the Agri Worker of the Year for 2026,” Bergman said.
She sees the award as recognition of the long hours, challenges and effort that go into the olive industry. “It has given me new motivation to continue learning, growing and giving my best. I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I did not expect this at all.”
TERO makes its mark at SA Olive Awards
One of the brands recognised at this year’s SA Olive Awards was TERO Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a cold-pressed olive oil range produced by Brown Badger, part of Terrain African Agri Investment, in the Karoo.
TERO took home five awards, including four silver awards in the medium category for its Koroneiki, Don Carlo and Coratina single varieties, as well as a blend. Its Picual single variety received gold.
For Christie Henn, head of agronomy at Terrain African Agri Investment, the recognition comes at an important point for the young brand. TERO was launched in 2026, although the farm has been producing and pressing olives for many years.
Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
Based in Leeu Gamka, the farm produces more than 500 000 litres of olive oil each season and employs 250 to 300 people during harvest. The olives are picked by hand and pressed on the farm.
Henn said these awards recognise the work of everyone involved, from farm management and employees to the pressing team and other partners.
“For us, it’s building the brand, but also building hope for the community of Leeu Gamka, where poverty is very high, and employment is very scarce.”
The farm is now working on building the TERO brand and hopes this year’s recognition will be the first of many achievements.
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