ASTIR

ASTIR is a family business processing and standardization of traditional agricultural products.

In 1993, the Drakopoulos family, as successor of the Vrakas brothers’ company, founded the first unit of production of table olives in Ellinoekklissia of the municipality of Messini. The aim was to satisfy the need of both the domestic market and the international market for quality agricultural products of high nutritional value.

In 2002 the company expands the products of its activity. New products are the natural dried figs of Kalamata, standardized in new innovative packaging and the extra virgin olive oil of Kalamata. All products come from the wider area of ancient Messina. An area famous not only for its history but also for the production of agricultural products with rich organoleptic characteristics.

In the years that follow, the company spreads in the domestic market as well as in foreign countries, providing consumers with 100% natural products of fine quality and rich nutritional value. The products are exported to the countries of America, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Bulgaria and Russia.

In 2007 , the company’s needs led to the construction of new facilities of 1500 square meters. At the same time the company is certified with haccp and ELOT EN ISO 22000:2005.

New products such as dried figs of organic agriculture and the Kalamata olive P.O.P. are certified by specialized certification companies and by the competent bodies of the state ELGO DIMITRA.

The company’s goal for the future is the continuous effort to improve the high quality of its products, based on a balanced Mediterranean diet, the maintenance of its credibility in the market and its further development through innovation in packaging, processing and standardization.

The continued expansion of the company in the Greek market and the entry of its products in new emerging markets abroad are its main objectives.

INSTALLATION DETAILS

Location of production plant

The production unit is located in Ellinoekklissia, in the interior of the prefecture of Messinia. It is 28 km north of Kalamata and 5 km away from the ancient city of Messini. It is a semi-mountainous area rich in the production of quality agricultural products.

Production unit square footage

Privately owned premises of 1500 square meters.

Machinery and description

  • Whole olive production line – olive engraver
  • Olive vacuum packaging production line
  • Olive metal packaging production line
  • Production line for pitted, shredded olives
  • Extra virgin olive oil packaging line
  • Dry fig packing line.

PRODUCTION QUALITY DATA

The production unit is located in the wider semi-mountainous area of ancient Messini (new municipality of Messini), an area with mild climatic conditions during the year and soil with rich qualitative characteristics that help in the production of agricultural products of high nutritional and organoleptic value.

The extra virgin olive oil of the region, according to the study of Professor of Pharmacology Mr. Prokopis Mayati contains the highest concentrations of oleic acid and oleocanthal (the two most important polyphenols in olive oil) in Greece. He describes the olive oil of the region as medicine.

The traditional and absolutely natural way of processing and standardization of the Kalamata olive, as well as the addition of ingredients with rich quality characteristics (vinegar – olive oil) without preservatives, gives the product excellent taste and quality.

The natural way of drying (sun), the uniqueness of the variety of Kalamata dried figs, the traditional way of processing and the ecological way of de-pollination, make the dried figs of the region unique in the world.

PRODUCT RANGE

Product categories: olives, olive oil, dried figs.

Olives

Kalamata PDO Olives, Kalamata Olives, Green Olives, Throumba Olives, Throumba Olives XXL.

Olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil Kalamata PDO, Extra virgin olive oil.

Dry figs

Kalamata dry figs, Kalamata dry figs with walnut.