The pandemic and small businesses

As we are still dealing with the pandemic which we hope to leave behind us soon, it is time to reflect how it has reshaped the world of agriculture. Small businesses and small scale farmers, who rely on personal contact have been hit hard. Olive oil producers, who were hoping for food exhibitions, local fairs, traditional brick and mortar sales have been seeking ways to offer their products to the consumers.

The alternative solution of online commerce

Many producers have turned to online shops. Nowadays, popular e-commerce platforms secure every step in the shopping process, while safe payment gateways allow secure bank payments. Ecommerce organisations test and certify that a website complies with global online shopping practices. Deliveries to a broad range of countries are nowadays possible even for small quantities.

Social media and small olive oil brands

Customers care about highly nutritious, fairly priced and ethical products. They want to see every step of the agricultural process and be sure that the price corresponds to the quality they receive. Often smaller olive oil brands have the means to manufacture and source transparently their harvest, as opposed to bigger ones. For them, every customer matters, while they put their name and reputation behind their product. In a fraudulent olive oil market, honesty is more important than ever. Through their website and social media accounts, farmers share valuable information about their processes, publish their achievements and the characteristics of their region and product. Customers get the chance to have a glimpse on the farmer's story, get in touch directly with the producer and discuss every detail.

How to support us

The most direct and safe way to support small producers is buying directly from them while maintaining all the necessary social distancing mandates. And it is possible nowadays to receive a unique product coming from a remote corner of Greece to your doorstep, in an environmentally conscious, carbon-neutral way. How more personal could that be?

Why is it good to support small olive oil producers?

Supporting directly small farmers you make sure money doesn’t get lost in a supply chain heavily dominated by intermediaries. Why leave minimal profit margins to the producers who create the product value and support their local economy? As the mountainous rural Greek countryside is gradually being abandoned, in our case more than 90% over the last 50 years, small businesses play an important role in maintaining the social fabric, creating jobs and helping local development. Local workers, olive mills close by and bottling facilities help the whole business community prosper by building symbiotic relationships.

Moreover, olive cultivation promotes biodiversity against degradation and desertification, while preserving the natural character of the region. As with wine tourism, the development of olive oil tourism could contribute to creating a culinary culture built around local products and recipes. Imagine the positive impact this could have on adjacent hotels, attractions, and tours!

The olives are put in baskets which allow air flow. They are ready to be sent to the mill.

Workers help the olives drop from the tree on special collecting nets

Vassae Olive oil comes from an olive grove with trees almost half a century old.

Olive harvest takes place early in November