EU Organic Juice Planet
Contract notice EU Organic Juice Planet
Contest process of EU Organic Juice Planet
The Farmers’ Cooperative was founded in 2005 and is recognised as a Producers’ Organisation (P.O.) (Group). It is based in the Municipal District of Agios Athanasios, Municipality of Doxato, Prefecture of Drama, and its full name is ‘Farmers’ Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers of Agios Athanasios, Drama’, in short Agios Athanasios ASOP.
Throughout Greece, more than 1000 producers from ASOP’s team cultivate 1000 out of a total of 2000 hectares of pomegranates being cultivated in Greece, using the contract farming model.
Our main activity is vertically integrated Pomegranate farming through rational management of Pomegranate plantation facilities, and the processing of Pomegranate produce by selecting, packaging, and de-seeding and juice production at our privately owned facilities, as well as the commercial utilisation of Pomegranate products for the benefit of our Producer’s Group.
Since talk doesn’t convince consumers, but rather taste and quality, we are always available to our members with our geotechnical staff and expert external technical consultants, in order to organise and correctly implement all phases of Pomegranate cultivation, for the production of Certified Quality products, while respecting farmers, the environment, and consumer protection. Following this, strict collection, transportation, selection, and juicing procedures for fresh fruits and bottled pomegranate juice are implemented, in order to provide our consumers with high quality and nutritional value goods.
We possess facilities in Agios Athanasios, Drama, with cutting edge machinery, including a processing unit, refrigeration chambers, a packaging unit, a juicing unit, and a logistics department. We have in place an integrated distribution system for Greece and abroad. We export to the USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, and Cyprus, while consumers can find ASOP products at more than 1500 sale points throughout Greece.
We are targeting premium markets and consumers who care about their nutrition, choosing products that combine high quality with excellent taste. For that reason, our freshly squeezed juice is produced from 100% Greek ‘Wonderful’ variety pomegranates, after the skin is removed using a special method, and without including any additives or preservatives, or having undergone any dilution. We are opposed to the production of cheap products of low nutritional value, while we place special emphasis on the protection of the environment, sustainability, and environmentally friendly fruit processing methods.
We stand by our farmers, our partners, our customers, and our consumers. With respect and honesty for the creation and supply of products of exceptional quality and taste.
In our privately owned area in the Municipal District of Agios Athanasios in Drama, in 2012 we built the first Greek vertically integrated model pomegranate processing unit, where we installed modern selection and pre-processing machinery, peeling equipment that uses the de-seeding method which provides us with the “jewels” of the fruit intact pomegranate seed packages in containers of 200-2000 grams, a juicing unit with clear juice technology, which means that our juice is produced from the pomegranate seeds only, using high tech machinery to remove the external and internal peel of the fruit, refrigeration and storage spaces with high hygiene and safety standards, supplying to Greek and global market with fresh pomegranates, pomegranate seeds, a line of pomegranate products, and ASOP’s Greek 100% natural pomegranate juice!
in an area of more than 900 hectares more than 5000 tonnes of pomegranates, an amount that increases every year. ASOP’sPomegranate cultivation is the largest in Greece and one of the largest such enterprises in the Mediterranean basin. Approximately 1000 producers faithfully follow ASOP’s cultivation practices and methods, ensuring the fruit’s high quality.
Safely and immediately after harvest pomegranates from the areas in which they are cultivated to the processing and juicing unit in Agios Athanasios, Drama.
The best fruits and separate those to be distributed fresh and those to be used in juicing.
Pomegranates carefully, in order to ensure all microorganisms and anything unfit for human consumption is completely removed from their skin. Using the de-seeding method we get the “jewels” of the fruit, intact.
Fresh pomegranates and seeds in the right packages and store them in special chambers so they retain their freshness until they are delivered to sale points.
Having removed the skin using clear juice technology. The juice is bottled in glass bottles that are food safety certified, without dilutions, additives, or preservatives, retaining all their vitamins and nutrients unchanged.
The final product. The Quality Control department checks the juice’s qualitative characteristics, so that they comply with International hygiene and food safety regulations.
We continuously invest in research, the utilisation of technological developments, and the development of new high added value products. In cooperation with the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, and using pioneering methods, we utilise the solid waste from pomegranates for the production of fuel, briquettes, and environmentally friendly beauty products, leading the way in the overall utilisation of farm product waste.
Here at the ASOP family, this is how we comprehend and put into practice Green development, producing environmentally friendly products, reducing pollution, substituting imports with modern product exports, and contributing to real and sustainable growth.
If you are a cultivator interested in long-term rational investment, join the largest pomegranate farming group in Greece. Join ASOP.
ASOP-Greek Pomegranate received the GOLD PRIZE at the top Greek export awards event,
the Greek Exports Awards.
The Greek Export Awards are co-organised by the Association of Diplomatic Employees for Economic & Trade Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ethos Media, aiming at highlighting-rewarding the people, ideas, and collaborations of the top exporting businesses in Greece.
ASOP-Greek Pomegranate received the GOLD PRIZE in the TOP BRANDED EXPORT PRODUCT category.
The final assessment-awarding of the gold prize to ASOP’s 100% fresh pomegranate juices (organic & conventional) was jointly decided: 40% originated from a vote by consumers throughout Greece (15,750 people participated in the vote) and 60% came from the judges panel, which included top players in Greece's financial, business, chamber, and scientific communities.
At the award ceremony held on 22 November in Athens, the central speaker was deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy and Openness Mr Kostas Fragogiannis.
ASOP’s distinction was the result of the long-term investment and presence of ASOP in the vertical integration of the primary sector in modern cultivations, such as pomegranates, which produce high added value and high nutritional value.
ASOP’s products can be found on shop shelves in 16 countries.
ASOP sees this top distinction as an added responsibility in representing Greek Pomegranates in the domestic and foreign markets, with non-negotiable quality, focusing on keeping the product completely natural, and ensuring absolute quality in ASOP’s pomegranate juices.
