Strawberries cultivation areas and acreage continue to expand in Greece
Greece
Monday 30 March 2009
For one more year, there has been a significant rise in strawberry cultivation areas in Manolada in the Peloponnese.
More specifically, the information given by the Greek Ministry of Agriculture indicates that although acreage in 2004 did not exceed 200 h., in only 4 seasons it has risen to 600 h.
Regarding the running season, good weather conditions so far have helped in the growth of the plants and the first fruit is being collected. About 80% of the plants cultivated this season belong to Camarosa variety, while the rest is mainly of the Catonga variety. There are also some fields where Festival strawberries are being cultivated but its volumes are not very big. This selection of the above varieties was made because of the preferences of the Greek and Russian markets that consume the largest part of the production.
In the last three years, Greek strawberries have started “a new journey” in many European markets leaving consumers that have tasted them satisfied. Consumers in Russia have shown special interest in Greek strawberries and as a result most of last year’s exported volumes were destined for the Russian Confederation.
A similar thing will probably happen this year as well, although the depreciation of the Russian currency in contrast to euro could create some problems. Whether things go well or not in Russia, there are a lot of European markets with a strong demand for Greek strawberries.
The first strawberry farms were planted in during the sixties at the lowland areas of Naousa and Veria in the North of the country. Slowly, the cultivation was extended southern and was particularly developed in the eighties in the area of New Manolada in the district of Helia.
New Manolada is today the mainly production center of Greek green-house strawberries. Almost the entire Greek production, a percentage of almost 95%, comes from that area.