The Milo Kastorias PGI is an apple from the family of the Rosaceae, which is divided into the red varieties Starking, Starkrimson, IDR Delicious, Red Chief and the yellow varieties Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Granny Smith.
Production Method
The fruits are collected by hand, one at a time, starting at the end of September for approximately one month. They are placed in plastic recipients, then transferred to wooden crates and transported the same day to refrigerating plants and finally transferred to refrigerated storage. The apples are preserved from the moment of collection until the period between the end of May and beginning of June of the following year.
Appearance and Flavour
The Milo Kastorias PGI has an intense red or yellow colour, according to the variety, and is characterised by a fleshy and juicy consistency, a slightly sweet flavour, a delicious scent and a crunchy and whitish pulp.
Production Area
The production area of the Milo Kastorias PGI is within the Kastoria prefecture, which is part of the administrative region of West Macedonia. The apple-trees are cultivated mostly in places bordering the lake and the river in the municipal areas of Kastoria, Vitsi, Agia Triada, Orestida, Agioi Anargyroi and Ion Dragoumis, at an altitude between 630 m and 850 above sea level. The overall area allocated to the cultivation is of 16,500 stremmas, which are equivalent to approximately 16,500,000 sq. m., equalling 5% of the prefectures' cultivable area.
History
The history of the Milo Kastorias PGI is linked to the apple cultivation practice in the Kastoria prefecture, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and started in the mountain villages, to then spread to the lake and river locations of the prefecture between 1930 and 1940. Currently, approximately 20-30% of the Kastoria apple production is exported to European countries, such as Italy, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands, and small quantities are also exported to Israel, Albania and Russia. In Greece, apple festivals are regularly organized. These go back to an old tradition, consolidated over time, with frequent participation of folkloristic groups.
Gastronomy
The Milo Kastorias PGI can be kept for long periods, and should preferably be kept in a cool and dry place. The apples are generally consumed raw, but can also be cooked in various manners, e.g. baked in the oven with low temperatures, in order to use them in the production of preserves, sauces or as ingredient for jam tarts. Furthermore, they are used in the production of ciders (which were also mentioned in the Plutarch writings of the 1st century AD), juices, wines, spirits, brandies and vinegars, in the confectionary industry and in the production of pectin.
Marketing
The product is sold as Milo Kastorias PGI. It is marketed in plastic crates and cartons of various sizes, in accordance with the requests and peculiarities of the internal or foreign markets. The cartons can have three layers (50 cm, 27 cm, 30 cm), five layers of the "tray pack" kind (52 cm, 32 cm), or two-layer cardboard trays (40 cm, 60 cm, 18 cm), where the apples are placed in two layers within a plastic holder.
Distinctive Features
The characteristics of the Milo Kastorias PGI are given by the cultivation methods used and the favourable topologic and climatic conditions of the production area, which has an alluvial and sedimentary terrain, composed mostly of volcanic rocky layers of the Gramos and the Vitsi. The climate is temperate continental, thanks to the presence of the lake, and is characterised by a noteworthy temperature difference between day and night. In the specific ripening months, these characteristics favour the complete pigmentation on the fruit, thus determining the vivid yellow or red colour that characterises these apples.
