Greece’s Zagorin Apple Harvest Down 30% on Climate Change

One in three apples consumed in Greece are Zagorin, but this may change as the impact of climate change and inclement weather reduced the harvest by 30% this past year and is forcing the Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora-Pilio to consider planting other varieties that are less sensitive to high temperatures, such as Gala and Fuji.

According to a report at OT.gr, this season’s production was negatively impacted by unseasonal whether while the trees were blooming last spring, as well as by the passing of storm Daniel, which caused flooding and mass destruction in the region.

The President of the cooperative explained that the region accounts for 8-10% of the total production of apples in Greece and that their crops rely on 12,000 hectares of land for production.

While a portion will be restored after the storms, with the help of the Greek state, approximately 10% of plants have been permanently lost. As a result of the disruption in supply and higher production and transportation costs, prices have increased 20%.

The Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora-Pilio was established in 1916 by 199 people of Zagora, a mountainous region located in the mid-eastern region of mainland Greece, and now includes 800 producers and members. In 1996 the European Union recognized the apples as “Protected Designation of Origin” products.