1.
<Expanded>Natural</Expanded>
From an agricultural point of view, the soil in the Chalkidiki Prefecture is perfectly suited to olive growing as the trees grow and bear fruit across the entire range of terrain, from the poor chalky rocks in the mountains to alluvial fertile soil of calcareous origin in the plains.
The characteristics of the climate in Chalkidiki are particularly favourable for olive trees; although it lies in northern Greece, Chalkidiki’s extensive coastline along the shores of the Aegean (630 km of coastline) means that it is in the same range of minimum and maximum temperatures as olive-producing regions farther south such as Messinia, Etoloakarnania and Attica. Furthermore, it benefits from high rainfall, with an average annual rainfall of between 450 mm (on the plains) and 850 mm (in the mountains).
Another reason why the climate of Chalkidiki is favourable for the cultivation of olives is that, depending on altitude, it is characterised by mild to cold winters and mild to hot and dry summers with a high number of sunlight hours and long transitions between seasons. The average temperature during the summer does not exceed 22 °C, and the very lowest temperatures in winter rarely drop to – 10 °C, even in the mountains, creating ideal conditions for successful olives.
In addition to their large size, Prasines Elies Chalkidikis are characterised by a robust and glossy skin of bright green/greenish-yellow colour, a rich, firm and subtle flesh, a subtle fruity aroma and a somewhat bitter and spicy flavour.
The soil and climate conditions in Chalkidiki as well as the techniques for growing and processing the olives enhance the abovementioned quality characteristics of the product in the following way:
The long period of relatively low temperatures in the harvesting period combined with the growing techniques, especially pruning and debudding, maximise the potential of the varieties to help make production stable and the olives grow to a very large size with a high ratio of flesh to stone.
As a result of the mainly calcareous origin of the soil, the olives are rich in volatile compounds, which give them their fine fruity flavour.
Thanks to the high number of sunshine hours and mild temperatures during the summer, as well as the monitoring of ripening by the producers and their organisations, when they are harvested the olives are bright green, have a succulent flesh and are of the right consistency for easy pitting without damage or deterioration.
The growing techniques, in particular irrigation and monitoring of ripening, mean that the olives retain a low oil content, which contributes to the lack of an oily taste, to the distinctive aromatic characteristics, as well as to the avoidance of oxidation and, as a result, to better preservation of the olives.
The traditional method of harvesting by hand ensures that the olives are in the best natural condition and that their further processing is successful, while the manual selection and stuffing of the olives ensures the best, authentic final product.
Similarly, by combining traditional practices, the processing units have adapted processing techniques to the special characteristics of the different varieties to overcome difficulties with the olive during fermentation, to keep its organoleptic characteristics unaltered, and to succeed in the stable production of a uniform product known throughout Greece for its slightly bitter and spicy taste. The fact that many of the units are export-oriented also means that Prasines Elies Chalkidikis are marketed in many countries outside Greece.
2.
<Expanded>Historical</Expanded>
Some references to olive groves in Chalkidiki date back to 1415: the olive grove of Andronicus, in the Agios Pavlos (St Paul’s) monastery of Kassandra, the scattered ancient olive trees in the monastery of Vatopedi in Souflari of Kalamaria (Nea Triylia), the same in the neighbouring Daoutlou (Eleochoria) and the olive grove of the monastery of Iviron on the island of Kafkania of Olympiada. In the rest of Chalkidiki there were existing domesticated olive trees, and their presence often gave rise to place names. It would seem that the fruit from these olive trees were mainly used for the preparation of edible olives.
In the mid-19th century, Chalcidiceans began to concern themselves more systematically with olive-growing, the grafting of wild olive trees and, on a smaller scale, the transplanting of domesticated trees. This trend must mainly have been due to the favourable tax conditions created by the ‘Regulation on the licensing of new olive groves’ promulgated in 1863. By 1887 Christakis Zografos had already established the huge olive grove of Portaria, with a surface area of some 500 ha and over 32 000 trees. At the same time, Hatsis Osman founded a large steam-powered oil mill in Yerakini of Polygyros, which sparked off the modernisation of similar mills in Chalkidiki.
Chalkidiki’s causal link with the olive tree and its fruit is also witnessed by the age-old cultivation and production of olive products in the region, as historically documented, and the preservation of numerous folk traditions to this day. In Chalkidiki, for at least the last two centuries, the olive has been an important part of the inhabitants’ economic life, social activity and cultural traditions.