Tholen – In 1994 Antonakis Panagiotis started with the cultivation and trade of onions. He is from Thebes, an area in Greece where a lot of onions are grown. "This area produces 90% of the Greek onions," tells the entrepreneur. "We own 100 hectare farmland." His crops are mainly sold in Greece. He exports to countries with competition during May and August, when onions are out of season there. 
Dutch onions are dryer
"When we are talking about export, the Netherlands is our main competition. Their season runs to an end, so that is when we make our move. The big difference with Dutch onions is that Greek onions are larger and moister. We use more irrigation to grow our onions. We start the new production half way through April, it is the first onion yield in Europe."
"The climate in Thiva is perfect to farm onions. The weather is good, so we are expecting a good harvest."
Antonakis Panagiotis of Greek Onions (right) during Freskon 2015.
He states that at other moments during the year it is difficult to compete with other growers. "The prices in Germany and the Netherlands are lower, we have more costs." Antonakis grows and supplies onions the entire year. They have their own storage and packing facilities. Every year 60% of the harvest is exported to central and eastern Europe, the USA and Canada. The company is GlobalG.A.P. certified.
For more information:
Antonakis Panagiotis
Green Onions Antonakis
2nd km. Thiva-Mouriki road
GR-32200 Thiva - Greece
Tel: +30 22620 25915
Fax: +30 22620 25914
www.greekonions.gr