This month’s Mount Zero Hero feature comes in the form of a harvest update from our incredible grove partners, John and Marjan Symington.
We've been working closely with John and Marjan since 2014, who grow the exceptional Frantoio, Arbequina and Picual olives that form the backbone of both our extra virgin and agrumato olive oils. Olive harvest is an exceptionally busy time of year — and for John and Marjan, that means it's all hands on deck.
IMAGE: Farm manager, Scott Sanders, and Marjan Symington.
Their olive-growing journey began several years earlier in 2007, when an unexpected opportunity to manage a grove in Peru sparked what became a lifelong love for the humble olive. Since then, their passion has grown into something remarkable, as evidenced by their thriving grove in Kialla, in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley region.
John and Marjan's farming approach strikes a perfect balance between cutting-edge technology and time-honoured, sustainable agricultural methods. Visit their Kialla grove and you’ll see flocks of sheep meandering between the trees, doing double duty by naturally mowing the rows and fertilising the soil (yes — that way). The sustainability loop continues with the leftover olive paste from oil production, which John, Marjan and the team transform into rich compost to nourish the trees year after year.
IMAGE: Sheep roaming between the rows in John and Marjan's olive grove.
As harvest unfolds, our general manager, Rich, is in near-daily contact with John and Marjan as the season progresses. All signs are pointing toward a spectacular year: the groves are full of healthy fruit, and the early oil is looking vibrant, antioxidant-rich and packed with bright, fresh flavours.
Right now, John and Marjan are preparing to press the olives that will become our 2025 Early Harvest Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It’s a delicate balancing act to time the harvest just right — especially with the unusually warm autumn we’ve been experiencing here in Victoria — but we couldn’t imagine more capable hands guiding the process.
IMAGE: John Symington in the grove.
So, while John and Marjan are hard at work bringing in the season’s best, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible dedication, care and knowledge that go into every drop of our oil — and to thank them for yet another brilliant harvest.