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Agricultural Cooperative of Pelion
Zagora Agricultural Cooperative of Pelion
The Zagora Agricultural Cooperative is one of the oldest cooperatives, founded in 1916 by 199 residents of Zagora. In 1985, the Cooperative entered a new phase of activity as an organized commercial enterprise. The trademark was registered, and every authentic Zagorin apple bears the sticker that makes it stand out. In 1996, recognition came with the “Protected Designation of Origin” label from the European Union, and Zagorin apples began traveling the world, conquering international markets—100 years of continuous production and presence in the agricultural sector!
The Zagora Agricultural Cooperative produces inspected, high-quality, guaranteed apples with a protected designation of origin. This distinction certifies that the Zagorin apple is a product of high standards. Using the method of “Integrated Production,” the Zagorin apple is exceptionally clean and healthy, which is why it is trusted both in Greece and around the world.
Facilities
The Zagora Cooperative currently operates an ultra-modern, privately owned complex of refrigeration and sorting facilities, considered one of the largest in the Balkans. This showcases the Cooperative’s ongoing investment in modernizing its technical infrastructure.
The state-of-the-art refrigeration units, with a total volume of 55,000 m³ (over 50% of which are ULO controlled-atmosphere chambers), have the capacity to store and preserve more than 10,000 tons of produce. Sorting is carried out using fully automated electronic sorting lines with a capacity of 180 tons per 8-hour shift (based on weight and color). The facility also includes electronic machines for small-scale packaging.
Quality & Certification
For over a century, the Zagora Agricultural Cooperative has been shaping the history of the Greek apple and is ranked among the top three model cooperatives in Europe. The quality of the now well-known “ZAGORIN” apples has become deeply ingrained in Greek consumer consciousness, and their reputation extends beyond Greece’s borders, conquering the markets of Europe and the Middle East.
ZAGORIN apples are considered among the best in the world, and this recognition was sealed in 1996 by the European Union with the “Protected Designation of Origin” label (EU Regulation No. 1107/96), a significant distinction awarded to products of high standards.
Furthermore, 100% of our apples are produced using the “Integrated Management” method. The apples are cultivated in an environmentally friendly manner and are safe for the consumer.
Orchards
The Starking Delicious apple was introduced to the Zagora Pelion area in the early 1950s by Georgios Samsarelos, a resident of Zagora, who brought it from California, USA. Within a few years, the cultivation of Starking apples became the main crop of the region.
What gives these apples their unique and distinctive flavor is the location of the area, which combines the mountain with the sea, creating the characteristics that distinguish Zagora apples, such as the deep red color, the rounded shape, and the flavorful flesh.
Farming
Soil & Environment
The soils of the area are light in texture, well-drained due to the sloping terrain, fertile with an organic matter content of 2-3%, and a pH of 5.5-6.
The climate of the region is characterized as semi-mountainous with a maritime influence, humid with high rainfall and snow in the winters, but mild temperatures. During the summer, the area experiences moderate temperatures and high humidity.
Cultivation Techniques
Planting
The planting of the trees is done in holes dug by hand due to difficulties presented by the soil (unevenness, slope).
Pruning
The pruning of the trees is done manually with simple pruning shears and saws. The desired pruning shape is the free vase shape, aiming to achieve good ventilation of the tree during the summer and proper exposure of the apples to sunlight. At higher altitudes, the form is more upright to avoid serious damage from winter snowfalls.
Hilling
At the same time as pruning, the “hilling” of the trees is carried out. A trench is created around the base of the trunk to improve the aeration of the tree’s collar and roots, helping to prevent collar rot and root rot.
Fertilization
Tree fertilization takes place between January and March using basic fertilizers, depending on the corresponding soil analysis. Fertilizers are applied around each tree at a distance of 1–1.5 meters from the trunk, in furrows, and then covered with soil. Organic fertilizers, especially well-rotted manure, are also used every 2–3 years, along with liming of the soils every 2 years. Fertilization is completed with the application of surface fertilizers if needed, from May to July. Mechanical cultivation in the area is almost nonexistent due to the soil’s characteristics. Mostly, weeds are cut 2–3 times during the growing season using lawn mowers.
Thinning
In early summer, when the fruit reaches the appropriate “walnut size” stage, thinning is carried out so that the remaining fruits can develop a satisfactory size. At the same time as thinning, most of the annual “water shoots” are removed to achieve good ventilation of the trees.
Spraying
Starting in early April, with the appearance of the “green tip,” tree spraying begins. A network of meteorological stations and pheromone traps, evenly distributed throughout the wider area, regularly informs the producers with the necessary data so that the use of plant protection products can be more effective and require fewer interventions.
Irrigation
Approximately 95% of the orchards in the area are irrigated. Irrigation is mostly done by flooding with good-quality communal water sourced from local springs.
Harvesting
Harvesting begins around September 15th and lasts about one month. Before harvesting starts, the Cooperative’s agronomists check the fruit’s maturity level and provide the necessary guidance for the exact harvest time. This process ensures the quality of the harvested product and greatly reduces the incidence of physiological and post-harvest diseases during storage.
Plant Protection
Within the framework of Integrated Management, the Agricultural Cooperative operates a valuable network of meteorological stations and pheromone traps for better and more effective management of fungi and pests.
The network consists of 13 meteorological stations for predicting fungal diseases (mainly Powdery Mildew, Powdery Scab, etc.) as well as 35 pheromone traps (Codling Moth – Narkis) distributed throughout the wider Zagora area.
The collection and processing of data help ensure that the use of plant protection products is better targeted, resulting in fewer applications.
Our Apples
Starking Delicious
Fruit of large size, spherical-elongated shape (rounded), with 5 characteristic nipple-like protrusions. Skin smooth-waxy with intense red color.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh is pale yellow, firm, juicy, sweet, and aromatic.
Harvest:
Early September – mid-October.
Storage:
Very good, lasting until early summer.
Golden Delicious
Fruit of medium to large size, conical shape. Skin thin with yellow-orange color.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh is pale yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, slightly tart, and aromatic.
Harvest:
Early September.
Storage:
Very good, lasting until early summer.
Royal Gala
Fruit of medium size, round shape. Skin moderately thick with striped red color.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh is white, firm, crisp, very juicy, and sweet.
Harvest:
August
Storage:
Very good, lasting until spring.
Fuji
Fruit of medium to large size, spherical, slightly flattened with a wide calyx cavity. Skin moderately thick, pinkish-red in color.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh is yellowish, crisp, juicy, very sweet, and aromatic.
Harvest:
October.
Storage:
Very good, lasting until early summer.
Jona
Fruit of medium size, spherical. Skin smooth, yellow with a bright red blush, slightly waxy.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh is firm, juicy, sweet – slightly tart, and of excellent quality.
Harvest:
Mid-September
Storage:
Very good, lasting until spring.
Reinette Du Canada
Fruit large-sized, spherical-flattened. Skin moderately thick, yellow-green with an orange or brown blush (on the sun-exposed side).
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh creamy white, firm, juicy, slightly tart.
Harvest:
September
Storage:
Very good, lasting until spring.
Fyriki Pelion
Fruit medium-sized, curved (elongated). Skin moderately thick, greenish-yellow with a red blush (where exposed to the sun).
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh pale yellow, firm, very sweet, and aromatic.
Harvest:
October
Storage:
Very good, lasting until spring.
Pears | Kiwis | Chestnuts
Kristalli Pears
Fruit medium-sized, bell-shaped. Skin thin, smooth, greenish-yellow in color.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh white, very juicy, sweet, and aromatic.
Harvest:
August
Storage:
Very good, lasting until early summer.
Pelion Kiwi
Fruit large-sized. Skin brown, fuzzy.
Quality Characteristics:
Flesh green, slightly tart, aromatic (good balance of sugars and acids).
Harvest:
Mid-October.
Storage:
Very good, lasting until spring.
Pelion Chestnuts
Fruit elliptical, triangular, or spherical. Size medium to large, brown color.
Quality Characteristics:
Thick pericarp and seed skin is astringent.
Harvest:
Mid-September – October.
Storage:
Long storage period.
📍 Headquarters:
Zagora, Pelion, Postal Code 37001
📞 Tel: +30 24260 22450 & 24260 22517
📠 Fax: +30 24260 22950
📧 Email: zagora[@]otenet.gr
📬 Communications Department: aszagorin[@]gmail.com
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