I was at ASEPOP Velventou, the fruit growers' cooperative, last spring. The idyllic landscape of the area: lake, green, tranquility, surrounding mountain ranges. Velvento is located 33 km from Kozani, in the shadow of Pieria, next to the artificial lake of Polyphytos.
The settlement of Belvento is a harmonious architectural ensemble with narrow picturesque alleys, traditional stone, neoclassical, small squares and beautiful corners. Old watermills and churches make up a colorful mosaic, lost in a lush plain of 15,000 acres, overgrown with peaches.
When I went to the cooperative premises, there was an intoxicating smell of apple while young people were talking about their work. Quietly, without voices and demands, satisfied employees explained "their way" and their vision. The cooperative was founded in 1958 by a group of producers, with the aim of better cultivating and promoting agricultural products in the Velvento area. Over the years, the peach became the main crop of the area.
Today, ASEPOP Velventou has 400 active members, is a healthy cooperative, produces excellent products applying modern cultivation methods, supplies the country's major supermarkets and exports 40% of its production, mainly to Russia. It also undertakes the marketing and distribution of products of other producers and cooperatives. Now, in addition to peaches, nectarines and apples, which are the main volume of its production, it trades plums, cherries, nassis, quinces, apricots and various vegetables, with the main crop being tomatoes.
Thus, hundreds of producers have a guaranteed income while many employees are employed, especially during the summer months. The vision of the people of the cooperative is to continue its successful course. Their "way" is very simple: trust. This is their secret. The producers managed to reach an agreement, to cooperate, to join forces.
In this way they succeeded. Utilizing the pluses of a cooperative. Today, you see young people taking the reins, using technology and all modern marketing methods. In addition to special care in their products, they also deal with the "wrapper": a modern logo, cute papers covered with peaches, lively TV commercials.
At the same time, ASEPOP has a women's cooperative that produces jams and pastries, a pesticide station, a supermarket and a branch in the Central Vegetable Market of Athens.
Tel: +30 24660 31333
Central vegetable market Rentis, store B 16-18, tel. +30 210 48 13 677
asepopv.gr
Source: How did Velvento do it? | Articles Bostanistas.gr: Stories to eat differently
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