Organic Farming Week around the country
A number of events are being held around the country to mark the second annual Organic Farming Week, which began last Saturday and ends on October 10, aimed at acquainting consumers with the increasingly wide range of organic products now available in Greece. In recent years, the first Sunday in October has been declared Organic Farming Day in many Mediterranean countries. DIO, one of the three organic products accreditation organizations in Greece, is coordinating events for this second Organic Farming Week in Greece, which includes displays in stores, supermarket chains, outdoor markets and organic farms. Athens events: An organic products bazaar opened outside the Zappeion Hall last Friday. This coming Saturday, October 9, the Yantes restaurant on the Valtetsiou Street pedestrian zone will be holding a festival with the participation of organic farmers who sell their products in street markets, with food tastings and special offers. The festival will close with a concert by the group Raining Pleasure at 8.30 p.m. The restaurant is including one organic dish on its menu every day this week. Also on Sunday, the Agni Gi (Pure Earth) and the Mediterreanean Volunteers’ Network are taking visitors to the Georgas vineyard and farm in Attica (telephone 210.661.5610 for further details). DIO is holding excursions from Athens to organic farms in Arcadia (the Spyropoulou and Smyrni farms, with food and music at the latter) and Viotia (the Katseli vineyard, the Tsokanis and Haniotis farms, with food served at the latter) and from Thessaloniki to farms in Macedonia. Countrywide: In Arcadia, events include a discussion at Leondari Town Hall on «Organic Farming and Local Development.» Sunday, October 10, at the Smyrni family farm there will be a concert by the Fenia Papadodoma group (call 27910.61112 for further details). On the island of Corfu, the ECOZOI cooperative is organizing conferences on organic farming for producers and agronomists. In Hania, on the island of Crete, the GAIA group and the Hania Organic Farmers’ Association is planning daily visits for consumers and schoolchildren to organic farms, as well as lectures and special offers. An exhibition of organic products, including a photo and video show, is being held in Hania Municipal Park on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Throughout the week there will be discounts and special officers at selected open-air markets that sell organic products, as well as in accredited stores and supermarket chains. For further details, call DIO at 210.822.4384.
