Greek local food products, direct from exporting companies

The Olive oil production

Kerkyra: The rural landscape of Kerkyra with its olive groves on the slopes of the hills is alternated with the shores and the beaches forming an unparallel landscape with a unique infinite beauty.
The cultivated olive types are “Asprolia”, “Corfu”, “Mavrolia” and “Lianolia”. Specifically, the local cultivar “Lianolia” (or “Korfolia” or “Ladolia Corfu”) has been traditionally cultivated on the island of Corfu for centuries and it is a cultivar adapted to the particular soil and climate conditions of Corfu. This is the reason why the “Lianola” cultivar is a valuable genetic resource that deserves to be protected and be exploited because it can produce high quality olive oil, such as “St. Matthew’s Corfu olive oil”, which has been certified as PGI olive oil.

Zakynthos: The Zakynthian olive groves are renowned for the cultivation of olive oil which has been an integral part of the island’s economy since the age of Homer. The long tradition of the olive oil cultivation in conjunction with the particular weather conditions (sunshine, soil moisture during the critical periods of fruiting and ripening, as well as the relatively high humidity of the atmosphere have a positive affect on the growth of the olive fruit trees), and favour the production of the prestigious olive oil with features that are not found in oany other region.
The Zakynthian olive oil is produced from the olive types of the "Koroneiki" and "Local Lianolia". It has excellent quality and it has been registered as a PGI product since 1998.

Kefalonia: An excellent quality olive oil produced from Kefalonia’s olive groves. The composition of Kefallinian land soil and with its specific climatic conditions create suitable conditions for the growth of olives. The olive oil stands out for its quality and taste which is considered unique.
The Olive oil production in Kefalonia is transferred from generation to generation and the cultivation of the olive tree, the olive collection and the fruit processing for the production of olive oil are still harvested in a traditional way known only by the Kefallinians. Thereby, the outcome of this delicious olive oil is of exceptional quality, such as the certified PGI olive oil “Kefalonia”.
The cultivated olives grown on the island of Kefalonia are: “Thiako” (mainly in Ithaki), “Koroneiki” and “Lianolia” (or “Korfolia”).

Tourism

The temperate climate, the deep cool sea waters; the mountains, the lush vegetation, the cultural heritage and the cheerfulness of the inhabitants, make the Ionian Islands the ideal holiday place for relaxation. 

What is more, the traits of the Ionian Islands are perfectly combined with a flawless tourism infrastructure, excellent hotel accommodations, restaurants, diving centers, sea sports, cultural events, and a multitude of sights, historic monuments and museums worth visiting. 

Scattered along the western coastline of Central Greece, the Ionian Islands as they are known, are an island cluster comprising twelve small and large islands whose total surface area comes to 2,200 square kilometers. Zakynthos, Ithaca, Corfu (Kerkyra), Kefalonia, Lefkada, and Paxi are the six, large Ionian Islands.  Antipaxi, Erikousa, Mathraki, Othoni, Meganisi and the deserted islets of Strofades south of Zakynthos are the smaller Ionian Islands.

Together with the island of Kythira and the neighboring Antikythira form the island cluster of Eptanisa. Nevertheless it should be noted that Kythira and Antikythira are completely cut off from the rest of the Ionian islands situated as they are across southern Peloponnese and the coast of Laconia.  

Once, the Ionian Islands were part of Central Greece but were torn apart when the terrain sank due to the seismic activity along the great coastline fault of the Ionian Sea. This accounts not only for the ragged shores and hauntingly beautiful beaches but it also accounts for the islands’ tall mountains, once part of the Pindos mountain range which crosses Central Greece. It also accounts for the great depth of the waters in the area which, at 4,406 meters, is the greatest in the Mediterranean. 

The Ionian islands have a mild and temperate climate which makes them the ideal location for vacation or residence.  In winter, the mountains of Central Greece stop the cold northern winds from reaching the islands while, in summer, the heat is tempered by the meltemia, the soft, northwestern winds, and the sea breezes.  Due to the air currents prevalent on the Ionian islands, many of the island beaches have developed into internationally acclaimed windsurfing centers.