Ecology

It is my last day here in Ikaria, a beautiful Greek island in the northern Aegean, named after Icarus from mythology, who fell into the surrounding sea when his wax wings melted in the sun. Ikaria is a nature lover’s paradise with its crystal blue waters, and lush hiking trails that lead to quaint, mountainous villages nestled on the coast.

Coming from an ancient culture themselves, Japanese people show an admiration for ancient Greek history and an attraction to the Greek culture in general. The extent of this respect was exhibited in a Japanese man’s desire to save the plain tree that according to tradition was planted by the father of western medicine Hippocrates.

The Choco Slim drink sold under the Iasis brand has been found to contain two unapproved substances, the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) said on Wednesday, announcing that it is being recalled from shelves.

Tests on the beverage - which is advertised as a dietary supplement - found it to contain rhodiola rosea and konjac root, neither of which are approved in Greece.

In olive oil-producing countries such as Greece, tourists can wander through olive groves all year, observing the summer growth of olives, their autumn harvest, the winter landscapes, the new spring branches, leaves, and blossoms, and the cycle’s annual repetition. We can see people and nature working together to make Greek liquid gold in its homeland.

Greece exported 50.38 tons of olive oil in the first half of the year for 214.9 million euros. This means it sold olive oil to other countries at 4.2 euros per kilo, while the cheapest brand of olive oil at local supermarkets costs at least 8-8.5 euros per liter (with a liter of olive oil weighing 915 grams).

The General Directorate of Forestry announced on Aug. 26 the reforestation of the burned forest land in the Ayvalık district of the western province of Balıkesir. 

The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the Peloponnesian city of Sparta offers fascinating insights into the history of olive cultivation and olive oil production in Greece from prehistoric times to the early 20th century, from their roles in mythology, religion and the economy to art, culture and cuisine. The museum is open every day except Tuesdays and holidays between 10 a.m.

The coniferous forests in Bulgaria are dying because of a bark beetle invasion. Therefore, more and more forests are drying out in the mountains around Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil and other parts of the country. Reports Novini. 

Housed in the old communal olive press of Aghia Paraskevi on the island of Lesvos, the Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production presents the fascinating history of this niche industry in Greece, focusing on the changes brought about by the introduction of modern machinery into the production process and the contribution of the region's inhabitants toward this industrialization.

Evoo World Ranking is an internet site ranking the world's best olive oil. This site gives points to the world's prestigious olive oil quality contests, according to their importance. For example, Mario Solinas is the most prestigious and highest scored contest.