Production
Sultana Cooperative Organizations, (KSOS) in Crete and Peloponnese report that the 2005 raisin production of 28,000 MT, was down slightly down from the 29,000 MT produced in 2004. Dry weather conditions during the summer of 2005 resulted in less fruit. Early reports for the 2006 crop output indicate that the sun dried fruit production will easily reach 30,000 MT, possibly more, if favorable weather conditions prevail until the end of the growing period. Current weather conditions, on the island of Crete, where the largest percentage of Greek dry sultanas are produced, have been excellent. Farmers are optimistic for a good harvest, however summer temperatures will play the decisive role.
Total sultanas plantings of 24,000 hectares in Greece, are divided among Crete with Crete 12-13,000 Ha (mostly for dried fruit product) and the remaining in the mainland of North Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands. The production data for sultanas includes both fresh and dried sultanas because both are marketed, and sometimes even produced on the same farm. Most fresh sultanas are produced in Northern Peloponnese, in the prefectures of Corinth and Aigialis. In the early 1990’s, sultana acreage on the island of Crete, alone, exceeded 20,000 hectares.
The evolution of the sultana crop in Crete was described previously in GR 5011 (2005 Dried Fruit Annual Report). Reportedly, during 2004 – 2006 farmers in Crete increased sultana acreage 7.2 percent, in an attempt to benefit from EU income supports, payment of which is based on area of production. However, when factored with abandoned fields and shifts in production to grapes and olives, this increased acreage is not expected to have much of an impact on output. Greece’s primary competitor, both in the EU and in international markets, is Turkey, with production of 250,000 MT, annual sales of 300,000 MT, and lower production costs than Greece. Younger generations of Greek farmers have abandoned traditional dried raisin production with small vineyards because of small land ownership, plant diseases in the 1980’s and 1990’s and competition from countries like Turkey.