Genissea

https://www.sugarcanesyrup.com/

PETMEZI-The Greek sugarcane syrup

In the village of Genissea, Xanthi, the Social Cooperative Enterprise is located. It was created by the Women's Association of the region and since 2006 has revived the traditional cultivation of sugarcane, as well as the processing of the primary product to produce Petmezi.

Sugarcane was cultivated in the area, in the middle of the 20th century by Pontian refugees, who wanted to continue the traditional crops of their ancestral areas. Gradually, the cultivation of sugarcane in the area was abandoned, but it was revived thanks to the efforts of the Women's Association, which found a suitable variety and procured propagating material to produce Petmezi.

The cultivation and processing of sugarcane present many peculiarities. So, it took a lot of effort and research to acquire the necessary knowledge. In the early years, all work was done manually, resulting in the unsustainable combination of high production costs and low productivity. However, with the very same means and personal work, the ladies of Genissea, Women's Association, managed to build the first cleaning machine for the sugarcane stalk; a development that helped them immensely.

After being urged by university professors, like Harokopio University, about the rare nutritional value of Petmezi, the need to establish a social cooperative business arose, since this, it was close to their own beliefs. Seven women put all their savings, believed in it and they are fighting all these years to make it known.

Petmezi, i.e. sugarcane syrup, is a product of high nutritional value, rich in polyphenols, high antioxidant activity and zero content of heavy metals. The high quality and characteristics of the product have been confirmed by relevant studies and analyses of the Institute of Agricultural Products Technology (I.TE.GE.P) and Harokopio University.

The Social Cooperative Enterprise "Genissea" produces Petmezi, which markets as it is or used as a raw material for the production of other goods. This year, they are representing Greece in the European entrepreneurship competition along with the Ministry of Industry, as an innovative company.