{"id":10970,"date":"2019-04-06T10:12:58","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T07:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.inaxorio.com\/?p=10970"},"modified":"2019-04-06T10:13:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-06T07:13:00","slug":"bottle-of-olive-oil-from-ancient-cretan-trees-sells-for-e510","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inaxorio.com\/bottle-of-olive-oil-from-ancient-cretan-trees-sells-for-e510\/","title":{"rendered":"Bottle of Olive Oil from Ancient Cretan Trees Sells for \u20ac510"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The amazing price<\/a> of 510 euros for a half liter of Greek olive oil captured plenty of attention, but the full story has deeper roots in ancient Greek olive trees. Some of these ancient trees are being preserved and promoted by the Eptastiktos cooperative that donated that precious oil to a Dutch charity auction, and also helps its Cretan community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presented in wooden gift boxes, yet usually more affordable than at the auction, the limited edition half liter collectible bottles of olive oil generally help finance Eptastiktos\u2019s \u201cancient olive tree project.\u201d<\/strong> This focuses on \u201ccreating paths and cultural routes\u201d<\/strong> that join ancient olive trees and olive groves with other local attractions, benefitting the local economy by encouraging ecotourism and sustainable rural management<\/strong>, according to cooperative member Giorgos Tomadakis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tomadakis explained to Greek Liquid Gold that Eptastiktos produces and promotes high quality local products<\/strong> that bring a fair price to the producer in order to \u201creveal, highlight, and protect the local heritage of our region<\/strong>.\u201d They offer such items as extra virgin olive oil, carob syrup, co-milled aromatic olive oil condiments, ointments, soaps, and chutneys of tomato, pepper, and eggplant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Profits from such products help them work toward their goal: \u201cthe total\u00a0protection and enhancement of the over-thousand-years-old olive trees in Crete<\/strong>\u201d through sustainable management, \u201cso that they won\u2019t be cut for lumber or other farming.\u201d They have recorded\u00a0220 productive olive trees that are more than 1,000 years old<\/strong>, with an average age of 1,850 years and one tree more than 3,000 years old! The trees are owned by 60 local proprietors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking its name from the ancient Greek word for the ladybug with seven spots that helps protect crops from pests, Eptastiktos pays homage to Crete\u2019s ancient olive trees with a poetic appreciation<\/strong> on their website<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming from the depths of time<\/strong>. Seeking to help them stand tall for future generations, as their website explains,\u00a0Eptastiktos is recording data about hundreds of these ancient trees<\/strong>, measuring, photographing, and mapping them, talking with their owners, and \u201ccreating a cultural network\u201d for the trees\u2019 protection. The plan is\u00a0to link them with archaeological sites, country churches, and impressive natural areas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under their shade, Minoans were hosted.
Their trunks were touched by many conquerors. Their roots were
watered, with blood, sweat and tears, until today they stand
irrefutable and living witnesses of our history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n