About 30 growers, who have anywhere between five and 50 trees on their properties, will bring up to 300kg of freshly picked olives to the community press.
In return, they will see the olive press in action and eventually be rewarded with low-cost 250ml bottles of extra virgin olive oil proportional to the weight of their olives that go through the press.
Central Otago Olive Growers (COOG) chairman said the day had become popular among the numerous lifestyle block owners across the district who would otherwise have an olive crop which would be uneconomic to process.
"With the price of high-quality extra virgin olive oil reaching up to $100 a litre because of the worldwide shortage of the crop, these hobby growers love the opportunity to get some locally grown product in their kitchen, the fruit for some of which may have come from their own backyard."
Central Otago’s hot, arid summers and dry winters combined with a plentiful water supply through the Clutha River system meant many olive enthusiasts can bring upwards of 30kg to the community press.
On the day they will be able to watch the olive pressing as hosts Steve and Olivia Morris of Olive Press Central Otago supervise the crushing of the harvested olives.
The olives would then sit while the oils and natural juices seep out, a process called malaxation.
"The oil will then be separated and filtered before bottling and distributed to COOG members or sold to the public through local markets," he said.
Every olive grower in Central Otago is welcome on the day whether or not they are a COOG member. The cost for the day is $20 for COOG members or $40 for non-members.
Registrations can be made through centralotagolivegrowers@gmail.com
