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"K.you eat a cucumber and you garnish, "says Vasilis Apostolou, a farmer in the big fountain of Lamia, whose conversation was disgusting when our conversation came to the reason why he chose hydroponics to produce tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in a greenhouse. The 62-year-old farmer, in addition to the above, produces a more resilient variety of pearl mushrooms, which, some time ago, had been exported to Sweden, use of geothermal energy.

Invest in hydroponics

As stated in the "CC", the investment in hydroponics took place when he had all the knowledge and guidance needed to start. "I have been working on agricultural production since 1998. In 2005, with the help of an Israeli agronomist friend, we decided to try the hydroponics technique. needed and after receiving the appropriate advice from the agronomist, we performed tests in a greenhouse.

When we found that the results were satisfactory and that my grandson, Vangelis, had decided to continue to work as a farmer, we decided to build new units with all the necessary equipment for the job. Hydroponic agriculture.

Most of our chapters were ours and only the first unit we built was 35% funded by improvement plans. "

Vbadilis was excited by the result, but also by the fact that it was not necessary to plow or pulverize.

"Ninety-nine percent of insect control is done with beneficial insects, thus avoiding chemicals, so the products are absolutely clean and healthy," she says.

Promotion product

Hydroponics has made the Apostolos family one of the strongest names in the local market, attracting a consumer audience that has chosen it for years. "60% of our products are sold on the local market through six lakes, local supermarkets and the Lamia market, while our customers have chosen us from the beginning.The remaining 40% of the products are promoted wholesale in Athens and in Cyprus, "says Vasilis.

Lower price

The products made by the family's hydroponic greenhouses are as clean and quality as they were before the crisis, Vasilis points out. "However, the economic situation has affected us as well as all the others.The costs of production in hydroponics are quite high and, because of the economic crisis, we sell our products between 30% and 40% less, both in only in detail. "He points out that there should be more information for the consumer on the benefits and products of hydroponics.

Mushroom production The activity of Vasilis does not stop in the hydroponic greenhouses, but it also continues in the production of many mushrooms using geothermal energy. "We started testing geothermal production five years ago and sending mushrooms to Sweden, which may never have reached their destination because of their deterioration." We then decided to grow a variety of mushrooms more sustainable, requiring low temperatures.With a special system that we brought from the Netherlands, we were able to use geothermal energy.We are currently waiting for new proposals for the export of mushrooms, "he said. -he declares.

The next generation

The 62-year-old farmer is happy that his sons, Vangelis and Alexandros, have long been involved in the business and have the atmosphere and the appetite to offer him a lot. Vbadilis emphasizes that "the two children attended seminars to acquire the knowledge necessary for hydroponics and geothermal farming".

Fears

The current financial uncertainty creates uncertainty on the part of Vbadilis as to his business and the amounts invested, stressing that "it is necessary to regulate farmers that they must"