Varieties and Olive Grove Production Systems

Olive is the most important tree crop in Greece as in many countries of the Mediterranean basin. There is a significant number (80–100) of Greek olive varieties cultivated in Greece. ‘Koroneiki’, ‘Mastoidis’, ‘Megareitiki’ and ‘Lianolia Kerkyras’ are the main varieties for olive oil production. ‘Koroneiki’ is the main variety cultivated for olive oil production with fruit of around 20–25% olive oil content and olive oil of excellent quality. ‘Mastoidis’ is a variety with one of the highest fruit olive oil contents (25–30%) depending on the date of harvest. ‘Amfissis’, ‘Kalamon’ and ‘Chondrolia Chalkidikis’ are the main varieties for table olives that are exported in many countries worldwide. ‘Amfissis’ is mainly cultivated in Central Greece, ‘Kalamon’ in Western Greece and ‘Chondrolia Chalkidikis’ in the area of Chalkidiki. Traditional, semi-intensive and intensive are the main plantation systems. Super high-density system has also been implemented, in small-scale, in some regions of Greece during the last years. Replacement of local varieties by ‘Koroneiki’ poses a risk for biodiversity. High production cost in mountainous areas threatens the already fragile socio-economic life of inhabitants and often leads to abandonment. Adoption of new technologies, organization in cooperative schemes and training of farmers should be intensified.