THIS IS US
This is
us
The olive grower Michael Marakas
ANCIENT WISDOM TODAY’S KNOW HOW SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Michael Marakas is a graduate from the Agricultural University of Athens. During his studies, he discovered his special inclination and love for the engineering/ technical part of agricultural production, while his family tradition and legacy prompted him from a young age to be an active participant in all stages of olive farming and beyond.
In the 80s, he made some radical changes to the olive farming practices that used to be the norm up to that point. He streamlined the production, he planted trees more scarcely and he equipped the brand new olive mill with state-of-the-art engineering machines and equipment. The interventions and changes of young Michael Marakas at the time, marked a new era for the estate and the facilities.
I don’t pave my way with certainties but rather with love and devotion for my field of expertise.
As a keen observant of the growing trend of chemical additives in conventional farming, Michael Marakas takes a new, brave decision in 2004, changes course and turns to organic farming.
Looking back, the timing of this decision was absolutely justified, however not an easy one to realize. The new methods of farming were time consuming and more demanding, the ratio between quality and pricing of a bottle of organic, extra virgin olive oil is often imbalanced. Nonetheless, the achievement of creating a prosperous and profitable organic production, was a conscious choice and an inevitable goal for the business.
Michael Marakas is never complacent.
Solid proof of this conviction is that in 2012 he embarks on substituting his petrol powered machines and tools, used in the olive farming, with electric ones. This process was completed in 2021. In 2022 his installs solar panels of 10,5kw, obtaining 100% energy sufficiency of the oil mill and of his electric tools.
The dreams, the vision, the goals continue…
The
Olive Grove
