In the process of “healing”, after a difficult period, is the production of a Greek product which dates from antiquity and from the time of Homer.

The reason for her raisin, which is one of the most important Greek agri-food products, with a large export footprint. Most of the production is located in the regions of Nemea, Achaia, Ilia, Messinia and Zakynthos.

A decade ago in our country, according to estimates, the raisin cultivation reached 140,000 acres, which by the beginning of 2020 had decreased to 100,000 acres, while now it is at 70,000 acres.

The “big damage” occurred during the coronavirus season, with prices plummeting and many farmers either leaving the profession or changing crops.

“Before the coronavirus, the price of the product was around 1.7 euros per kilo, while during the pandemic the prices dropped to 70 cents per kilo” said the President of the Corinthian Raisin Interprofessional Organization, Thanasis Sotiropoulos speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency adding that “the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food did not handle things properly at that time”.

All this, according to him, had the effect of largely abandoning the cultivation as “it is difficult, perhaps the most difficult cultivation in Greece, but also very expensive” says Mr. Sotiropoulos.

Recovery and exports

However, he expresses his optimism that the sector, despite the significant challenges it is facing, “will find its way again”.

Starting from the prices which are expected to be at higher levels than last year, even approaching the pre-quarantine level. This is a positive thing for the producers, who after some difficult years will once again see their efforts rewarded.

This year’s harvest will be moderate in volume but of excellent quality, which will give additional value to the produced product. While no firm conclusions can yet be drawn, this year’s production is expected to be higher than last year’s, which reached, according to estimates, 12,000 tons.

This, combined with the lack of stocks due to last year’s even smaller harvest, will lay a solid foundation for crop growth.

The Greek raisin is present in more than 45 countries, having as a “ticket” its quality, but also its nutrients.

Characteristic according to the president of Interprofessional is the fact that “Greek raisins are exported to countries that have their own production, such as the USA, Australia, countries of the European Union, etc.”.

The problems

However, there are also many problems facing raisin producers. The cost of production and the lack of land workers make their work increasingly difficult. Professionals to ask for a plan to be drawn up, so that it becomes possible to do “machine farming” since the lack of labor is now a fact.

This, according to Mr. Sotiropoulos, will help producers to reduce production costs, and by extension will allow them to remain in cultivation and not abandon it.

Finally, an important problem that arose during the years of the pandemic was the abandonment of cultivation. “In some areas the producers preferred to plant olives”, while in others, mainly in coastal areas, the owners turned to tourism, noted Mr. Sotiropoulos.