Olive oil growers

Growers participating in the Mirabello EPD group decided to set very strict quality standards for olive oil that comes in the package with the special environmental label EPD. Thus, each of whom contributed a small amount of the best oil, with lower acidity and the best organoleptic characteristics. The Mirabello Union has created one of the few tasting panels in our country, who have taken the accreditation of the official national carrier (EPD). Thus, it is easy to reliably examine every oil producer, even every grove where needed. With this procedure,  Mirabello Union was chosen olive oil packed in 1600 (;) bottles with the special environmental label EPD.

Each grower involved in this particular production, enters a time consuming and tedious process, in order to consistently record a wealth of information about the production process. This information allows an accurate assessment of the environmental impact of each grove and  from those informations we produce solutions, and vents to reduce it.

Our aim is to raise public awareness in our effort to make the Mediterranean grove part of the solution to climate change, while offering consumers what more selectively produce each year our olive trees.

Our  Policy

We implement an environmental management system since at least 5 years. As farmers’ groups and our participant members share the following environmental policy:

In my effort to optimize my yields,

• I commit to contribute by taking individual and collective measures, so as to avoid any risks for the environment caused by my activities, such as pollution by agrochemical use, depletion of natural resources, soil erosion, as well as any degradation of product quality. Moreover,

• I commit to taking adequate measures for the continuing improvement of environmental and product quality and to use inputs within reason, limiting their use to the amounts necessary to ensure the maximal yields possible in the given environmental conditions.

• I commit to comply to relevant legislation and also to my contractual obligations regarding the environment and the quality of the product offered to consumers. I commit to conform to the advice of specialists concerning harvest, transport and olive oil fruit processing, so as to enhance the quality characteristics of olive oil.

• I commit to meet the expectations of my customers with respect to the reliable offer of uniform, standard quality olive oil produced with the utmost respect for the environment.

Geographic Location of primary production site

Our primary production site is scattered in Lasithi (Mirabello) in Crete as shown in the map. Accurate locations of each olive grove are available. From Nov. 2011 to mid January 2012 olive fruit is harvested. This is processed by 19 oil mills. This spread of oil mills is necessary in order to minimize the time lapse between harvesting and extraction, ensuring thus the best quality of olive oil. Two criteria have been set for the segregation of EPD olive oil. First, the quality of documentation for all the direct aspects related to producers activity. Second, the quality of the olive oil, which has to exceed the average values for extra virgin olive oil. All the criteria were met in 2010-11 period by 1204 litres of extra virgin olive oil, so it was decided not to exceed this volume for the next two years.

The 22 olive oil growers from Mirabello Union

ALEXIS DIMITRIOS        ALEXI MARIA                         VDOUKAKIS NIKOLAOS
FROUZAKIS MYRON     MASTORAKIS DIMITRIOS    FAITAKIS THEODOROS
PAVLAKIS DIMITRIOS   ZOULAKIS THEODOROS      CHOURDAKIS MICHAEL
GALANAKI MARIA         MAVRIKAKIS CHARILAOS   KOUTSAKI IRINI
PLESSA DIONYSIA        LEBIDAKI MARIA                   PLEVRITAKI MARIA
RODOUSAKIS EMM.     KOSMADAKI ANNA              TZORTZIS EMMANOUIL
SISKAKI ELENI              MARKAKI ARGYRO               DINERAKIS KONSTANTINOS EVAGGELINAKIS IOANNIS