3rd HELLENIC COMPETITION OF STANDARDIZED EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE

THE WINNERS OF THE 3rd HELLENIC COMPETITION OF STANDARDIZED EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 2008-2009 & OLIVE OIL PACKAGING

2009-06-09-01

Successfully was completed the “3rd Hellenic Competition of Standardized Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2008-2009 & Olive Oil Packaging”   organized by the Cultural Organization «Routes of the Olive Tree» in cooperation with the Department of Consumers Affairs of the Ministry of Development, the Hellenic Organization of tasting olive products (EL.E.G.E.P.), the Network of Olive Oil Producing Cities (D.E.P.E.) and the generous support of the National Interprofessional Organization of Olive Oil  & Olives, the Hellenic Central Union of Chambers  and Messinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The competition   foreseen evaluation of extra virgin olive oil samples of the 2008-2009 harvest on a TASTE level and on the level of PACKAGING of the final product. In the competition participated 28 companies and unions from all over Greece with samples which after the evaluation process were in two categories: A.Olive oils of robust fruity intensity B. Olive oils of medium fruity intensity.

THE EVALUATION OF THE TASTE was made at the Chemical Laboratories of the Ministry of Development, in special areas, from the team of Connoisseurs of the Department of Consumers Affairs in accordance with the deontology which concerns the maintenance of unimpeachable of the contest and of the scientific method of tasting.

THE EVALUATION OF THE PACKAGE took place at the Hellenic Central Union of Chambers in accordance with the rules provided in the Contest Regulation. The samples of each category were judged by the Evaluation Committee in which took part managers of high professional profile.

After the process of the evaluation, winners of the product and of the package were the following:

OLIVE OILS of robust fruity intensity 

1st AWARD: the company AGROVIM A.E. with the extra virgin olive oil ELAIONION POP KALAMATA (Kalamata, Messinia)

2nd AWARD: Agricultural  Union KRITSAS with the extra virgin olive oil KRITSA 0,3 (Kritsa Lasithi, Crete)

Olive oils of medium fruity intensity

1st AWARD:   Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of SITIA with the extra virgin olive oil SITIA 0, 3 (Sitia, Crete)

2nd AWARD:  company M. & A. ΧΡΟΝΑΚΙ «PANGEA» with the extra virgin olive oil Mythia (Herakleion, Crete)

 

2009-06-09-02

THE ROUTES OF THE OLIVE TREE IN LEBANON!

The Foundation the Routes of the Olive Tree was recently engaged in a mission in Lebanon ; an opportunity to renew important contacts and consider the perspectives of cooperation for the next journey of the Routes in the area.

2009-02-18-01

Lebanon is a friendly country and a long term partner of the Routes of the Olive Tree. Many times has it welcomed generously the travelers of the olive tree, especially during their passage through Beyrouth and Tripoli. Thanks to many scientific and institutional contacts, the Foundation is keeping close relations with the institutions in the Lebanese olive-growing territories and it has always been connected to these olive tree lands, including during the hard moments in this country’s history.

The recent visit of the Routes of the Olive Tree in Lebanon offeredthe opportunity to warm up the contacts and reactivate common projects. Thus, a new cooperation protocol was created with the Beyrouth University. Concerning the creation of local itineraries of the Routes of the Olive Tree, an organised visit of the Soap Museum of the city of Saïda gave way to reflections about new spaces of promotion and cooperation for the Routes of the Olive Tree.

Finally, the organisation of the 12th edition of the Routes of the Olive Tree in 2010, which is planned to stop over in Lebanon, was the focal point of the mission and the programmed meetings.

 

A MOBILE EXPOSITION FOCUSED ON INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

When the Routes of the Olive Tree met the Routes of Silk”, a retrospective look to the latest exposition presented by the Cultural Foundation “The routes of the Olive Tree” with theme “Routes of the Olive Tree, Routes of Intercultural dialogue”

2008-10-22-01

This exposition was an idea of the collaborators of the Cultural Foundation that was created in the framework of last summers 10th Cultural Route through 12 countries, starting from Greece and following the Silk Routes in Central Asia and Eastern Europe through Russia.The exposition is the result of a project that has been implemented for many years by the Cultural Foundation, with the aim of diffusing the symbolism and values of the olive trees, as well as presenting its beneficial products to the public. The exposition ispresented on the outside of a container truck which was transformed into a mobile activities center and an effective promotion tool of the olive tree heritage, according to the mentality of the Cultural Foundation.

2008-10-22-02

The exposition is divided into 2 large sections and many subsections, dedicated to the presentation of the Routes of the Olive Tree and the Mediterranean, the olive tree heritage and intercultural dialogue. The themes are exhibited on 16 big banners , placed at the different stops of the itinerary.
The objective is to develop intercultural dialogue between two commercial and cultural routes, the routes of silk and the route of the olive tree, conveyers of ideas, values and knowledge for centuries. Each banner presents a specific aspect of these important routes: the Routes of the Olive Tree as routes of intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and peace among people and civilizations, cultivation of the olive tree and the tree�s beneficial products, history and geography, the activities and aims of the Cultural Foundation etc.

2008-10-22-03

Each presentation of the exhibition is framed by tasting of olive products, combining knowledge and information with culinary discoveries.

 

In charge of the Exposition was Marinella Katsilieri,scientific responsible and coordinator of the �Routes of the Olive Tree�, in cooperation with the Museum of Civilization of Europe and Mediterranean�MUCEM in France (thanks to the invaluable cooperation of the museologist Colette Foissey and Edouard de Laubrie, responsible of researches and museum collections) and was placed under the auspices of the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

 

2008-10-22-04

During the 10th cultural itinerary last summer and despite some technical difficulties that did not allow the exposition to be presented in all the transit cities, it was met with enthusiasm and had great success in many cities, like Kiev and Bucharest. Its originality attracted the interest of local population and was promoted by the local media. On the occasion of the exposition in the transit countries, posters and leaflets of the Olive Tree Routes were distributed. The artists who joined the itinerary also presented their work created during the journey, such as sketches and aquarelles by the painter Heike Kummer and photos by the photographers Andrea Bonetti, Giorgos Prinos and Tassos Vamvakas. The exposition included also a line of collectors pieces that was bought by the Cultural Foundation during the itinerary, with the cooperation of Mr. A. Sagiannos. The visitors of the exhibition were equally impressed by the open-air painting workshop, which had as theme the creation of an enormous olive grove, an artistic activity realized in cooperation with the �Center of Environmental Formation of Kalamata�.

2008-10-22-05

The Museum of Civilizations of the Europe and the Mediterranean � MUCEMwill be the biggest museum in France with its theme the civilizations and societies of all the regions in, the Mediterranean. The goal of the MUCEM, which will open its doors to the public in 2013 in Marseille, is the promotion of the great social issues that characterize these regions. The olive tree and its civilization will be one of the basic sections of the ΜUCEM and it is being realized in cooperation with the cultural foundation �The Routes of the Olive Tree�.

THE ROUTES OF THE OLIVE TREE IN STRASBOURG

Upon the invitation of the Directorate of Culture & Cultural Heritage of the European Council, the Cultural Foundation “The Routes of the Olive Tree” was represented at the annual Meeting of the Network of Cultural Itineraries on October 2, 2008.

2008-10-07-01

The “Routes of the Olive Tree” are officially under the auspices of the European Council Since 2005 and they have been awarded the title “Great European Itinerary of the European Council” (two years after earning the distinction “International Cultural Itinerary” by UNESCO). This recognition paves the way for closer partnership between the European Council and the Cultural Foundation “The Routes of the Olive Tree” in multilevel projects about museums, education and editions. 

Delegates of cultural institutions and cultural itineraries assisted at the annual Reunion; many subjects were discussed, such as the priorities of the European Council and their realization through the Cultural Itineraries, while the coordinators gave directives and presented an extended report about the recent activities, challenges and projects for the future.

Mrs. Audrey Guittard, expert in communication and intercultural dialogue, representative of the Cultural Foundation, informed the participants about the 10th Cultural Foundation that took place in the summer, the opening of the The Routes of the Olive Tree Shop in Athens and the other Projects of the Cultural Foundation, like the creation of the “Little Friends of the Olive Tree Routes” Network and the “Olive Tree Library”.

The delegates of the European Council and the participants approved unanimously all the above activities and highlighted their effective contribution to the enhancement of intercultural dialogue and sustainable development, two fundamental priorities of the European Council.

Events: THE ROUTES OF THE OLIVE TREE 2008!

As part of its numerous activities, the “Routes of the Olive tree” Cultural Foundation organizes two extraordinary events in 2008 !

A worldwide riding meeting  / 63rd  FIM rally 2008 in Messinia-Greece (7th-13th July 2008)

This event about “the Olive tree’s Mediterranean area” will take place in Peloponese and gather 3000 riders together, coming from 44 different countries! In an idyllic atmosphere, at the seaside, concerts, tastings of traditional and local products, photos exhibitions, excursions and many other activities are planned for everyone’s pleasure!

The Peace Flame transfer up to Beijing and Moscow on the occasion of the 2008 Olympic Games (14th July-31st August 2008)

50 riders will leave Messinia and go towards Beijing to transfer the “Peace Flame” as well as an olive tree branch, the universal symbol of peace, on the occasion of the 2008 Olympic Games. This trip, that is full of dynamism and symbols, comes within the scope of 2008 “European Year of intercultural dialogue”. The riders will follow the tracks of two main routes: The route of the Olive tree and the Silk Road, in order to pass a message of friendship, pacific coexistence, good development conditions and prosperity on.

Visited countries: GREECE – TURKEY – GEORGIA – AZERBAIJAN – IRAN – TURKMENISTAN OUZBEKISTAN – KIRGHIZISTAN – CHINA – MONGOLIA – RUSSIA – UKRAINE – MOLDAVIA – ROMANIA – BULGARIA – GREECE. The round will be 23.000 kms long!!