Crete's Olive Farming Crisis: EU Policy Blamed for Orchards' Decline

Thursday, 14 May 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

Crete's centuries-old olive farming tradition is under serious threat, with the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) blamed for delivering repeated financial blows to local growers. Across many regions of Greece, and particularly in Crete, olive orchards are increasingly being abandoned as the policy fails to provide adequate support for small-scale producers. Olive oil is central to Cretan cuisine and culture, and the decline of local groves could gradually affect the quality and availability of authentic local products found in markets and restaurants. Visitors exploring rural areas may notice neglected or untended olive groves, especially in inland villages. For now, high-quality Cretan extra virgin olive oil remains widely available at local shops and farms, and agritourism experiences around the olive harvest season (October to December) continue to be offered across the island.