Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin
Date: 2002-03-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Thessaly, designation of origin, labelling, location of production, tropical fruit

27.3.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin

(2002/C 76/04)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of the above-
mentioned Regulation. Any objection to this application must be submitted via the competent authority
in the Member State concerned within a time limit of six months from the date of this publication. The
arguments for publication are set out below, in particular under 4.6, and are considered to justify the
application within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2081/92

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION: ARTICLE 5

PDO (

)

PGI (x)

National application No: EL-07/00-5

1. Responsible department in Member State

Name:

Directorate for Production and Exploitation of Orchard Crops, Citrus Fruit and Subtropicals
Division

Address: Akharnon 2, GR-10176 Athens

Tel.

Fax

(30-1) 529 12 74

(30-1) 523 38 66.

2. Applicant group

2.1. Name:

Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria

2.2. Address:

Solomou 10, GR-60100 Katerini

2.3. Composition: producer/processor (x)

other (

)

3. Type of product: 1.6.

4. Specification

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2)):

4.1. Name: Ακτινίδιο πιερίας (Aktinidio Pierias).

4.2. Description: The plant yielding the fruit now internationally called kiwi belongs to the Actini-
diaceae family of the order Ericales. It is a subtropical perennial deciduous climber requiring
support. The fruit has a well-balanced sweet-sour taste, characteristic delicate aroma and flesh
of a beautiful green. In addition to its attractive organoleptic properties it is of exceptional interest
for its nutritional value. It has the highest vitamin C content of any fruit plus a high content of
inorganic salts, chiefly of potassium, phosphorus and calcium but also of magnesium and iron.
The whole fruit is edible apart from the easily removed peel. The ripe fruit is eaten whole or in
fruit salads. Outstanding jams and jellies are also prepared. It can be tinned/bottled, frozen, dried
and juiced. Of the various varieties the one acclimatised to and grown on the plain of Pieria is
Hayward. Its large uniform fruits have an average weight of 90-100 g. The fine reddish green skin
is covered in delicate hairs. The flesh is pale green, clear, juicy, fragrant, slightly sub-acid and of
high vitamin C content. According to the nutritionists one fruit a day is enough to cover the
human body's vitamin C requirement. Hayward is an early variety. Ripening commences at the end
of October/beginning of November. It keeps in cold stores for up to nine months without losing
its organoleptic characteristics and stands up to being transported and to the various handling
operations.

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4.3. Geographical area: The plant was first grown in Greece in 1973 on the Pierian plain following
research into suitability to the area's soil and weather conditions. Since then it has rapidly
expanded to the present area of 18 000 ha in the prefecture. Average yield is 13 tonnes/ha.
The 23 000 tonnes grown annually account for 60 % of total Greek production. The geographical
production zone is the Pierian plain, comprising in the north the municipalities of Eginio, Methoni
and Pidna, in the south those of Dio Litokhorio and An. Olimpos and in the centre those of
Korini, Katerini and Paralia.

The microclimate of the area created by the two mountain ranges Olimpos to the south-west and
Pieria to the north-west and the adjacent sea (the area has a coastline of 60 km), together with
sunshine and the fertile, well drained, neutral pH soils guarantee ideal conditions for cultivating the
plant to yield quality fruit of excellent organoleptic properties and a delicate exotic scent. Given
the particular adaptability that the kiwi has displayed and the specific characteristics it has acquired
in the area it has taken on the symbolic name ‘fruit of Olimpos’ by which it is now known on all
the markets.

4.4. Proof of origin: The kiwi is a native of south-west China, where it is found today in its self-sown
form.
It was first known as the Chinese gooseberry and much later named kiwi after the
well-known flightless bird of New Zealand, where it was grown for the first time on a commercial
scale. In Greece it was grown for the first time in 1973 on the Pierian plain, where it has
acclimatised and adapted, acquiring specific qualitative characteristics on account of which it is
called ‘fruit of Olimpos’ and the ‘Olymp Kiwi’ logo has been approved. The entire production of
the specified geographical zone goes to the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria, which is
a recognised producer group and keeps full records (area under kiwis, production, disposal) for its
grower members. All kiwi plantations are registered (by grower member of the Union) and both
the quantity and quality of production are checked. The kiwis are collected, stored, graded and
packed at the Union's cold stores/packing stations located in the municipality of Korini. Transport
to foreign market is by refrigerated truck. The authorised officials of the Agriculture Department of
the Prefectural Administration, which constitutes the inspection body, check production, packing
and movement of the kiwis on the basis of the relevant ministerial decisions.

4.5. Method of production: From the end of October to the middle of December the kiwis are
harvested when their content of sugars reaches 6,5-7,0 Brix. They are picked by hand with
great care to avoid damage, placed in 20 kg plastic boxes and taken to UAC Pieria's cold stores/
packing stations, where after pre-chilling they are kept in cold chambers, depending on the storage
period in either an ordinary or a controlled atmosphere.

After electronic weighing and grading by weight the kiwis are packed in one, two or multi-layer
disposable cardboard boxes, each showing the number of fruits contained.

All the kiwis grown in the delimited geographical zone are handled by UAC Pieria on behalf of its
producer members.

Transport to foreign markets is by refrigerated truck or for small quantities by air. On the internal
market it is by ordinary truck.

About 70 % of production goes to foreign markets, chiefly to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria
and Russia. Smaller quantities go to Turkey, Saudi Arabia etc.

UAC Pieria has played a prominent role in promoting Greek kiwi fruit on foreign markets through
continual improvements in grading/packaging and organisation of marketing, and also through
continual guidance and inspection of grower members for the purpose of improving and guar-
anteeing the specific qualities of the product that have conferred on it its hallmarks of quality and
reliability.

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4.6. Link: The prevailing microclimate of the cultivation area is shaped by two mountain ranges,
Olimpos to the south-west and Pieria to the north-west, and also by the vicinity of the sea (the
area has a 60 km coastline). These factors ensure shelter from the wind and absence of frosts,
particularly the early spring and late autumn frosts that create problems for proper plant devel-
opment and fruit-bearing. These specific geographical features also ensure the necessary relative
humidity and temperature fluctuations within the limits that are required to ensure (a) the cold
necessary for interruption of dormancy, and (b) full development of the natural potential for
flowering and fruit-bearing. The amount of sunshine in Pieria is another factor with a positive
impact on development of the fruits and their chemical composition (acid/sugar balance) leading
to excellence of organoleptic characteristics. The soil characteristics of the delimited geographical
zone, such as lack of boron toxicity and of activated calcium but the necessary iron content, are
also factors contributing to high fruit quality (solid flesh) and the ability to keep for up to nine
months after cropping without deterioration of quality. The cultivation techniques used, based as
they are on long experience and knowledge, also contribute to the formation of well shaped
uniform fruit of good size.

These cultivation techniques are:

— good fertilisation achieved by selection of male plants and planting of an adequate number,

— positioning of beehives in order to ensure pollen transportation by bees,

— destruction of self-sown vegetation, which is used with other plant remains as green manure

and neutralises soil alkalinity,

— pruning to shape the plants in pergola or semi-pergola form; this helps with illumination and
ventilation of the fruits and the shading of them needed to avoid damage in high summer
temperatures,

— thinning of the fruit; this helps retention and development of good uniform fruits,

— manuring with decomposed animal dung, grape pomace and other organic remains, this

increases soil fertility and nutrient and moisture retention capacity,

— tackling disease along integrated or biological control

lines; this does not lead to harmful

residues in the fruit and helps maintain the environmental equilibrium.

4.7. Inspection body: Agricultural Directorate of the Prefectural Administration of Pieria.

4.8. Labelling: All packaging must carry the indication ‘Ακτινίδιο πιερίας (Aktinidio Pierias) — PGI’ —

and the indications required under Articles 4(7) and 5 of PD 81/93.

4.9. National requirements: The general PDO and PGI production requirements of PD 81/93 apply.

EC No: G/EL/00129/00.05.16.

Date of receipt of full application: 26 January 2001.