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16 COMP ANIES

“WHEN IT COMES TO APPLE,

ZAGORIN IS THE ANSWER”

When it comes to apple, the Agricultural Coop of Zago-
ra is the most historic and experienced cooperative in
Greece. Mr. Dionisios Valassas explains what makes AC
Zagora special.

DIONISIOS VALASSAS

DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL
COOPERATIVE OF ZAGORA

Mr. Valassas, how has the apple trade
season been up to now;
It has been a satisfying season so far, with
the quality of our apples being exceptional cost, to make collaborations, to diversi-
and the demand being really intense from fy the share of the cultivars and funnel one
the markets. part of the production to the processing in-
dustry. Anyway, the big challenge is to up-
How would you assess the market grade the quality of the Greek apples, as it
competition this year? The apples of the AC is very difficult, even unachievable, to com-
It is milder for everyone, due to the big ZAGORA represents about pete the market prices of the Eastern Euro-
reduction of the apple produce not only in pean countries.
Greece, but all over Europe. 99% of the production
of the Municipal Unit he A.C. Zagora exists and develops its
The Eastern European countries are activities for more than 100 years. Which
constantly rising their apple production. of Zagora and distributes are these fundamentals that keep the
How should the Greek apple sector react? about 85% of the apples Cooperative in the avant-garde of such a
In Greece, we have already faced the com- rigorous sector, as that of the apple?
petition of the Polish production, as we meet of the region of Magnesia Our A.C. has strong roots in the region of
Polish apples both in Greece and in other Zagora, as does business without pause
countries that Greek apples are exported. since 1916. There is a strong cooperative
We consider that the next years these com- tradition and strict compliance with consti-
petition will be more intense, as more pro- tutional principles, as that all the members
ducers will join the market. The Greek sec- have to deliver all their fruits to the coopera-
tor has to find ways to reduce the cultivation tive and that since there is a new inscription,

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