Greek onion producers face economic uncertainty during harvest

Onion producers in Greece, particularly in the Thebes region, are facing significant economic uncertainty as the current harvest begins. While the harvesting process involves manual uprooting followed by a 10 to 15-day natural drying period in the fields, the financial outlook remains grim.

Producers are struggling with high production costs, which now exceed 1,000 euros per stremma, and low market prices. Recent recorded prices have fluctuated between 20 and 25 cents per kilogram. Due to these low returns, some farmers chose to plow under their crops rather than harvest them, as the cost of labor exceeded potential profits.

Farmer Giorgos Melissaris noted that the previous growing season was one of the most difficult in recent years due to limited demand and low prices. The current period is characterized by psychological pressure and a market environment of uncertainty, with existing stocks from previous productions still occupying warehouses.