Garlic planting has just been concluded in Nea Vissa, Evros, which constitutes the most important garlic-growing area of Greece, amounting to about 70% of the national crop. According to Mr. Yannis Margaritidis, president of the local agricultural cooperative ASPEE Garlic Vissa, it is too early to make forecasts about the production volume, as the new harvest will begin in June. However, the prospects so far are positive: "The planting season ended without problems and with double the acreage of last season. Throughout the region of Nea Vissa, garlic acreage amounts to around 200 hectares."
A few years ago, this acreage was even bigger, reaching about 350-400 hectares, but the lack of local and immigrant workers and the high costs of the garlic growing, which was not being compensated by the market prices, had discouraged many people to focus on this crop. "This has changed recently," highlights the president of the Greek cooperative: "Difficulties will never be zero but new, young growers with yearning for work and fresh ideas have engaged with garlic growing, resulting in the plantation increase said. As of today, our cooperative has increased its garlic growing to 25 hectares and the average age among our membership is 35 years old."
Greek stocks available until March, while harvest begins in June
As for the current state of the garlic market, Mr. Margaritidis says that the Greek product is not enough to easily meet the needs of foreign clients. Despite challenges, the market leaves the Greek garlic professionals satisfied: "At the moment, individual growers sell their first quality crop coming from their warehouses at 0,30 euros per piece for a braid of 25 pieces. Second quality comes at half price. We have some requests coming from Germany and Israel, but at the same time, there are imports from Spain and Argentina and such. However, what creates difficulties in both the domestic and export markets is the strong competition of Chinese garlic. This is being delivered in big containers in the Central Markets of Athens and Thessaloniki at 900 euros per ton, which means about 0,09 euros per piece. Of course, these garlic shipments are not subject to the same growing standards as ours. Our cooperative complies with the Global Gap and Agro standards, our phytosanitary treatments are strictly controlled by agronomists and the final crop quality is monitored by our buyers, in which big super market chains are included."
According to Mr. Margaritidis, many Greek garlic this season belong to size category No. 8, while the stocks, not only of ASPEE Garlic Vissa, but also of the rest Greek trading entities, are going to be depleted by March. This means that from March to June, Greece will rely solely on imports in order to cover the domestic demand.
For more information
Yannis Margaritidis
ASPEE Garlic Vissa
Tel: +30 25520 71161
Email: [email protected]