The 2026 SA Olive Awards have highlighted the growing importance of technical excellence, orchard management and value-added production within South Africa’s olive farming industry.
Held on 15 September 2026 at Grande Roche in Paarl, the awards recognised producers for the quality of their extra virgin olive oils while highlighting broader developments across South African horticulture.
Technical Excellence Drives Olive Quality
The performance of leading producers reflects the importance of precise orchard management, harvesting practices and processing techniques in achieving consistent olive oil quality.
Producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil requires careful management of harvest timing, fruit selection and cold-extraction processes.
Among the recognised producers, Mardouw Investments received eight medals, including two Gold and six Silver medals, while De Rustica Estate received six Gold medals. Tokara earned five medals, including two Gold and three Silver.
The results also highlight the importance of matching olive cultivars with local growing conditions and managing orchards around seasonal climate variations.
Improving Agricultural Value and Market Access
High-quality olive oil production provides opportunities for farmers to increase the value generated from agricultural land.
Industry recognition can strengthen consumer confidence in locally produced olive oil while providing producers with a benchmark for quality and market positioning.
For South African olive producers, improving product quality and processing standards can support stronger domestic market opportunities and greater competitiveness in the wider olive oil sector.
Skilled Labour Remains Important
The awards also recognised the contribution of agricultural workers to farm performance.
Denise Bergman of Het Vlock Casteel on Môrester Farm in Riebeek Kasteel was named the 2026 SA Olive Agri Worker of the Year.
The recognition highlights the importance of skilled personnel in areas such as orchard management, fruit selection and harvesting operations.
Knowledge Supports Long-Term Farm Performance
The sector’s development also depends on the transfer of technical knowledge between experienced producers, agricultural specialists and emerging farmers.
The Lifetime Achievement Award presented to John Scrimgeour, recognising more than two decades of technical guidance, farm management and involvement with the SA Olive Technical Committee, highlights the role of industry experience and mentorship.
Knowledge sharing can help producers adopt effective farming practices while responding to changing climate conditions, input costs and production requirements.
Technology and Investment Support Agriculture
The olive industry’s continued development is also supported by investment in agricultural machinery, processing technology and sector-focused research.
Support from organisations including the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Absa, Pellenc and Agrimark reflects the wider ecosystem supporting agricultural production and technology adoption.
For olive producers, access to appropriate machinery, processing equipment and technical expertise can improve operational efficiency while helping farms maintain consistent production quality.
As South Africa’s olive industry continues to develop, the 2026 SA Olive Awards provide a snapshot of how agronomic knowledge, skilled labour, technology and value-added processing are contributing to the future of the sector.
