You might know that Mount Zero produces a range of certified organic and biodynamic products, but did you know that almost all of the Mount Zero range is Kosher certified? While Mount Zero was proud to first achieve Kosher certification for the majority of our products back in 2020, our connection to Jewish heritage stretches all the way back to the planting of the very first trees in the original Mount Zero olive grove in 1947.
Under the stewardship of Jewish migrant Jacob Friedman, Mount Olive Verdalion Plantations Limited established the dryland olive grove at the foot of the Grampians/Gariwerd that today provides many of the olives for Mount Zero!
A penniless Friedman had migrated to Australia in the 1920s in search of both a new life and a promising landscape that could support the growth of an olive plantation. He found the soil and climate conditions that he was looking for in the Wimmera region… and the rest, as they say, is history!
Mount Zero’s Kosher products
So is Mount Zero Kosher certified? Mostly, yes! Mount Zero is proud to be a producer of Australian Kosher olive oil and Australian Kosher olives. In addition, a wide range of our salts, grains, pulses and even condiments are certified Kosher. You can find our full Kosher certification list here, including the list of Mount Zero products that are approved for use during Passover.
Is olive oil Kosher?
Pure olive oil holds a special place in Jewish scripture and is often burned in an olive oil menorah during Hannukah. Our method of cold-pressing ‘extra virgin’ olive oil process creates an extremely pure form of olive oil, however, kosher certification also requires all equipment and transportation methods of olive oil to be certified as well (i.e., not having been used to store or transport non-kosher products). We diligently track and monitor the transportation tanks we use in moving our oils from olive groves to our warehouse, and our tanks are only ever used to store olive oil. Shop Mount Zero olive oils.
Are olives Kosher?
Some olives are cured using non-Kosher methods or ingredients, for example, olives that are cured using wine vinegar. However, Mount Zero’s olive curing methods do not use non-kosher methods or ingredients, so our core olive range is certified Kosher! You can check the Kosher certification of specific Mount Zero products here. Shop Mount Zero olives.