More than 25% seem to increase the price that Corinthian products will sell this year, where there is less production due to steep and intense rainfall. “In 2023 the price of the raisin for the producer was 1.40 euros a kilo while this year, it is estimated that it will be more than 1.80 euros a kilo,” the President of the Interprofessional Organization of the Corinthian Rais, Thanasis Sotiropoulos, told the APE-ABE, but stressed that “the final price will form the market.” “In this role also played the last growing year, which was not good, since heavy rainfall resulted in rotting stocks which will result in price increases in the producer,” added Mr.Sotiropoulos. The first indications of excellent quality in this year’s production, which is estimated to be less than originally calculated. According to Mr. Sotiropoulos “this year’s production will fall below 15,000 tonnes, with estimates expecting a harvest of 12,000 – 13,000 tons”, when before the pandemic of coronavirus as he points out “it was over 25,000 tonnes the producers”. “However, a decade ago in our country the cultivation of raisins reached estimated the 140,000 acres which by the early 2020 had fallen to 100,000 acres”. Problems With this situation, as the chairman of the Interprofessional Organization of the Corinthian Stafis points out, the climate crisis is primarily responsible. “The phenomenon of the climate crisis has greatly affected the cultivation of raisins. It is a product that is not irrigated by 80%, with the continuous droughts and heats causing enormous damage,” said Mr. Sotiropoulos at RES-APE. To address these issues, Mr. Sotiropoulos calls for measures to be taken both by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and by the Greek State to “protect the Corinthian raisin, which is the first product that as a country, we exported.” Corinthian raisin is a unique product for Europe, since there is no other Member State producing it. And that is why the President of the Interprofessional Organization of the Corinthian Raisin emphasises “it is a pity that no measures are taken to support producers, either through the restructuring of cultivation or through land improvement projects, which can support or help for some year the prolonged drought observed in recent years.” This in addition to supporting the crop will enable young people who want to deal with the raisin. “If there are support measures there will be and are of interest to the new generation,” says Mr. Sotiropoulos. In fact, this will give fresh air to more remote areas where no other product can be grown. “This is a product that has previously supported both local society and the economy,” concluded the President of the Interprofessional Organization of the Corinthian Raisin.
Raid: Reduced production but increased price this year
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