Greek growers waiting patiently for organic citrus to ripen

Peter Abma of Fairtrasa Holland does a lot of business with Greek organic growers and is therefore fully aware of the situation in the country. The effects of the crisis, he says, have been rather unexpected. Peter believes that a professionalization is made in the trade and that the importance of exports has increased. Is that true? And does the Greek citrus season start later than in competing countries?

Late start
To answer the last question first. Yes, it’s true: the citrus season in Greece starts later than in most other European countries. In October, there are already Spanish products in stores, while Greek producers seem to bide their time. Peter has a clear explanation for the late start in Greece: "In other countries, growers often try to accelerate growth by use of ethylene, etc., which in my estimation affects quality. Greek producers, however, prefer to wait patiently for organic citrus to ripen. That explains the high quality of their produce. The Greek fruits are much stronger and tastier."

Gerasimos Karadinos of Bio Net West Hellas shows some oranges.

Export more important in times of crisis
Peter says that in recent years, export has become increasingly important because of the crisis. "The export is doing very well. In the current economic situation, local prices are low, so the importance of export grows. The foreign traffic has become so crucial that the Greeks have had to become much more professional when it comes to trade. For us, it might go without saying there’s somebody in the office to answer the phone. Not so for the Greeks. It’s all much more laid back. That is now changing.”

Nikos Koutsodimos (left) grows organic oranges, tangerines and kiwis. Sotiris Ligdas grows early varieties.

Close contact with the growers
Fairtrasa Holland maintains close contact with the growers. "Through Hellas Bio Net, which includes six Greek agricultural cooperatives, we deal directly with various small growers. We want to make concrete agreements, be as clear as possible. At least 70% of the products must be sold in advance. We make sure to stick to the agreed-upon prices, so no panic occurs when the market situation changes.”

The Dutch trader has been doing business with the Greeks since 2009. In these years, he’s seen many changes. "When I started in 2009, almost no one was trading with Greece. The main products traded are citrus and kiwis. In recent years, the volumes have soared, acreage having increased exponentially." Peter indicates that Greece has now grown into a major supply country for the Netherlands. "We want to introduce as many consumers to Greek organic products as we can. We mean to do this by organizing tastings in health food stores and on the market."

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