Olive oil prices doubled in Greece

As a result of the fact that the production of olives and olive oil, indispensable for the table in Greece and an integral part of Greek culture, decreased significantly this year due to adverse weather conditions caused by the climate crisis, their prices approximately doubled in a anus. .

Mediterranean cuisine and its “crown jewel” olive oil, shown as the secret to a long life, is a symbol of abundance used in almost all aspects of life in Italy, Spain and Greece, and this year has reached a “golden value”. ” position.

While the price of a liter of olive oil, which consumes an average of 10 liters per person per year in the country, ranges between 10 and 15 euros on shelves, the prices of a liter of organic or extra refined olive oils They have exceeded 15 euros.

CHANGE IN NORMAL SEASONAL PRODUCTION DECREASE

Spiros Kaçaros, from a family that has operated an olive oil factory for three generations, told the AA correspondent that there has been a continuous decline in production over the past 50 years.

Kaçaros stated that although 2.5 tons of oil were obtained from olives from the same trees in the 1970s, 2 tons in the 1980s and 1 ton in the 1990s, this amount was limited to 200 kilograms in 2023.

Kaçaros highlighted that the main reason for the decrease in production is the change in climatic conditions and stated that the decrease in olive yield from the trees is parallel to the change in seasonal norms.

Kaçaros reported that some producers planted new olive trees to increase their production, but the olive oil production of traditional producers who were unable to do so decreased considerably.

Stating that olive oil production in his region this year was approximately 90 percent lower than last year, Kaçaros emphasized that the late start of winter last year was effective in this decline.

Kaçaros said: “Olives need cold to sleep and rest. If it is not cold for the olive tree to rest, the tree will think that spring and summer have arrived, like now, and will become confused. After all, it is a living organism. He thinks it can sprout early. “When the cold comes suddenly, the shoots deteriorate.” he said.

‘COLD IS ALSO NECESSARY AGAINST DISEASES’

Stating that olive trees did not need much care when he began his career, Kaçaros said that today the trees definitely need fertilization due to changes in temperature and rainfall.

Kaçaros stressed that cold is important to destroy diseases such as fungi in trees, and that the increase in winter temperatures makes fumigations mandatory to combat them.

THE SITUATION IN SPAIN AND ITALY HAS AFFECTED

Noting that olive production was low in Spain and Italy this year, Kaçaros said: “If the production were not low in these countries, the price would not increase much even if the production in Greece was low, but the price has been very high”. for 2 years.” he said.

Kaçaros pointed out that Italy and Spain, which are the determinants of the olive oil market, do not have enough olive oil to meet global consumption this year, and this is another reason for the sudden increase in prices.

Kaçaros explained that as demand increases, the quality of the olive oil consumed will also decrease: “Greek producers sold even the worst olive oil in Greece because they were given a good price (last year), because they could not predict that “The price of olive oil would rise a lot (this year) and the oil would be sold to the last drop.” said.

‘OLIVE OIL IS A TRADITION IN GREECE’

Ilias Kaçaros, son of Spiros Kaçaros, is the third generation owner of the olive oil factory, which has been in operation since 1958.

İlias Kaçaros pointed out that the factory he had been going to since he was 6 years old was a special curiosity for him.

Kaçaros stated that he is determined to continue his grandfather’s profession despite the decline in production and all the difficulties: “Olive oil is a product and a tradition that all families in Greece value highly. This tradition will continue. “We must have the tools and the intention to help producers.” he said.

PRODUCTION COSTS ALSO INCREASED

Nikolas Holiasmenos, mayor of the city of Askri, whose most important source of income is olive production, stated that the main reason for the decrease in production this year is the end of winter and said: “Production costs, fertilizers, diesel prices and prices of all vehicles needed for production have also increased. As a result, the price of the product also increased. In fact, this is the price oil should have. “Prices were very low in previous years.” he said.

Noting that the increase in production costs puts producers in a difficult situation, Holiasmenos stated that the price that wholesalers will pay producers this year is expected to be between 8 and 10 euros per liter.

Regarding the possibility of producers changing to other fruit and vegetable production, Holiasmenos states: “It is not like wheat, it cannot be changed every year. There are trees here that are more than 100 years old. “It is very difficult for manufacturers to abandon this and move on to other production.” saying.

BRAND ON OLIVE OIL

Young investor Hristos Reberis described his factory as “one of the most modern in the Balkans” and noted that production in Askri reached the markets of the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea and Canada.

Reberis pointed out that if young people put their hearts in this profession, they should consider leaving the big cities and living in the countryside, and stated that “it doesn’t matter if it is a small or large producer, each one should create a brand so that we can be known abroad. “Only in this way can our product be shown.” said.