Up until a few years ago, our plateau in the mountainous regions in Fthiotida seemed unvaried. The reeds of the harvested grain dominated, with a the occasional almond leaved pear or wild pear tree here there, for those who don’t know, to break the monotony and harshness of the dry August landscape.
Sporadically you would encounter fields with corn, tomatoes and rarely cotton. Most of them were extensive and over time required increased amounts of fertilizer and even more water. Over time the soil became poorer, the yields began to drop and the income was limited. However, for the past 15 years or so, a turn to more complex and demanding farming crops has began to take place.
One of the brighter divs in modern politics, professor and former Minister of Agriculture Athanasios Tsaftaris, has been passionately underlining how insightful farmers and experienced professions noticed in time the comparative advantages of our plateau and all Greek plateaus in arboriculture.
The micro-climate in these particular geographical zones, the big temperature difference between night and day, the soil quality and other aspects promote plant growth, the roots go deeper, they draw more trace minerals and other nutrients, with the fruit being richer in color and flavor.
Now as you travel through the plateau you will gaze at Pantelis’ apples, the Papadimitriou brothers’ farm, Nicolas’ vineyards, Thanasis and Velissaris’ walnut trees and so many more distinctive efforts of modern producers who are truly struggling for colorful peppers, exquisite lentils and tasty chickpeas and amazing fava, as well as unique manufacturers who made katiki a brand-name, make unique marmalades that highly ranked in the major global markets and others who set up model farming units.
If you happen to talk to any of these modern producers, you can tell the difference, you can sense the tidiness, you can understand the struggle and agony and – above all – you realize the aversion towards the counterproductive discussion of politics.
How can they relate to the antics of Zoi Konstantopoulou, Varoufakis and Lafazanis and the sterile conflict of some many others?
They see them on TV and shake their head in shame. They have no more words, they have run out of anger.
The Greece of production and creation can no longer carry on watching the barren madness in the city center of Athens. It has other things to consider and do…
Antonis Karakousis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
