The Greek market is running out of Greek chestnuts already, before the end of the first week of December. This creates room for Christmas imports, as almost all of the Greek cooperatives have sold out their stocks.
This is also true for A.C. Kapa, situated on the mountain Paiko in northern Greece. Mrs. Fotini Vairli, president of the cooperative mentions: "Demand for our high-quality chestnuts was strong, and we currently have no stock left in storage. We actually sold out several weeks ago. The net producer prices per kilogram set by our cooperative for the four size categories we handle were 1,40, 2,40, 3,20 and 3,50 euros."
The early conclusion of the sales is due to the decreased harvest volumes across Greece. "The prolonged drought and complete lack of moisture caused the chestnuts to dry on the trees, preventing them from falling to the ground," Mrs. Vairli points out. She adds that "the quantities harvested in the region of Paiko this year were approximately 20% higher compared to last year. However, they were at least 30% below the average of the past five years. In the Paiko region, between 800 and 1,200 tons of chestnuts are harvested annually."
However, in terms of sizes, this year's chestnuts were proportionally better than expected, especially considering the very challenging summer the growers faced. "The burs contained at most one or two chestnuts, whereas they typically hold three, resulting in very few small chestnuts this season. In terms of quality, the chestnuts we managed to harvest were excellent," the president of the Greek cooperative says.
Growing chestnuts in Greece is a particularly challenging activity. Growers encounter numerous difficulties. Mrs. Vairli explains: "As in most rural areas, farmers in Paiko face economic, social, environmental and demographic challenges. A key and ongoing challenge is the geography of our region. The slope of the chestnut orchards requires that all work be done manually, significantly increasing the level of difficulty and, consequently, the cost. Additionally, there is a shortage of labor, issues with rural road infrastructure, and, most critically, irrigation."
The biggest challenge seems to be the climate change. "If mild winters and hot, dry summers continue as a result of climate change, the chestnut, an essential crop that sustains our villages, enables young people to start families, and encourages them to stay in their homeland, will be at risk. Our top priority must be irrigation and the creation of infrastructure to manage the increasingly scarce water resources effectively," Mrs. Vairli concludes.
For more information:
Fotini Vairli
A.C. Kapa
Email: [email protected], [email protected]