The European Peza Irakliou Kritis PDO is an extra-virgin olive oil produced in the Heraklion region. It is made from Koroneiki olives and has a production area encompassing the administrative boundaries of various municipal areas in Heraklion, Crete. Regarding its characteristics, the Peza Irakliou Kritis PDO exhibits a golden green color and a piquant, fruity flavor.
In terms of production, the olives are harvested when they are fully ripe. The harvesting method involves either "beating" the olives with small wooden sticks or using small machines to "jolt" the trunk and branches, causing the olives to fall onto nets placed beneath the trees. Once collected, the olives are placed in plastic baskets or natural bags weighing 27 kg or 50 kg, and then transported to the oil mill for pressing. The pressing process takes place in classic or centrifuging oil mills, ensuring optimal processing conditions at a low temperature below 30°C. To combat the olive fly, the main threat to the crop, biologic methods using attractive substances sprayed from the soil are employed, avoiding any chemical treatments.
It’s PDO label (Protected Designation of Origin) identifies a product that originates in a specific place, region or country, the quality or characteristics of which are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural factors (raw materials, environmental characteristics, location) and human factors (traditional and craft production) and the production, transformation and elaboration phases of which all take place in the defined geographical area, in respect of rigid production regulations established in the procedural guidelines of production.
The EU financed campaign Gold Quality aims to promote these unique products to consumers in USA in a constant effort to increase the awareness about the PDO / PGI and organic label and in parallel inspire the US consumers to add as many as possible of these tasteful products to their daily diet gaining all the benefits from their superior quality and nutritional value.
