PDO Zagora and PGI Kastoria apples in Greece

Abstract

Apple production constitutes the fourth most important crop in Greece, after olives, citrus and peaches. The total apple production in Greece in 2016 was 278,920 tonnes and the total area of harvested apples was 12.077 ha. The aim of this report is to provide an insight in the PGI, PDO and Agia (conventional) apple value chains. Information is given about the areas of Kastoria, Zagora and Agia, climate conditions in the regions and apple production in Greece. Analytical information about the services and activities of cooperatives, as well as the financial perspective and personnel of the cooperative is presented in the report. Lastly, the value chain of the cooperatives of Kastoria and Zagora are described and we conclude with the overall perspective and impact of the FQS. The Geographical Indications and traditional specialities schemes encourage diverse agricultural production and help consumers by giving them information on the specific character of the products. Assessments of sustainability show that there are economic, environmental and social contributions. In particular, the price variable for the PDO Zagora apple is 74% higher than the PGI Kastoria apple, and the export share of PDO Zagora apple is 62% lower than the PGI Kastoria apple. Concerning the environmental results, the PGI Kastoria apple has higher environmental impact than the PDO Zagora apple (124%), although the food miles of PDO Zagora apple are higher (39%) than in PGI Kastoria. Lastly, the sustainability assessment of social impact of the FQS showed that the labour to product ratio of the PDO Zagora apple is higher than the counterpart PGI Kastoria apple (48%). Similarly, the turnover to labour ratio is higher for the PDO Zagora apple (20%) than the PGI Kastoria apple and in educational and generational change, PDO Zagora apple results are higher than the PGI Kastoria apple (35% and 12% respectively). So the PDO Zagora apple produces more jobs and has higher productivity than the PGI Kastoria apple.