Latest news with #Naoussa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs send chill through Greek peach harvest
By Lefteris Papadimas NAOUSSA (Reuters) -July is harvest time in Greece's northern peach orchards, where pickers mount wooden ladders and carefully place the fruit in crates ready for factories that peel, slice and can them, often for consumers in the United States. But this year, the harvest is filled with uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on European products that has sent shivers through industries from wine to olive oil and autos. Peach farmers and factory owners are worried that the tariffs will dent demand for their produce just as they are preparing to send their fresh harvest overseas, giving them little time to adapt or find alternative markets. Greece is the world's biggest exporter of tinned peaches, about one fifth of which goes to the United States, its second biggest market after Europe. Peaches, like some other goods, are already subject to a U.S. import levy of 17%. The new tariffs could increase the total import duty to 47%. "Now is even worse because it finds us at the peak, where the entire plant and all the production lines are working at full speed," said Lazaros Ioannidis, co-owner of a peach and fruit processing plant near Naoussa that sends about 40% of its produce to big U.S. companies like Dole. The fertile plain of Central Macedonia in Greece is one massive peach orchard. A sea of pink greets visitors in the spring, when the trees blossom. This week, trucks offloaded crate after crate brimming with thousands of yellow peaches at Ioannidis' plant, where they were loaded onto conveyor belts for processing. Greece's annual turnover from exports of tinned peach and other packaged peach products amounts to more than 600 million euros, with about 120 million euros coming from the U.S. market. Exports to the United States represent about 4% of Greece's total exports. Canned peach and peach derivatives, olives and olive oil are the three top exported agriculture products to the U.S., bringing home about half a billion euros annually. More than 20,000 families, farmers and workers make their income from peach farms and peach factories in Central Macedonia, according to Kostas Apostolou, head of the Greek Canners Association. "Our size might be small as a percentage for the country or the EU but for the region its a big source of income, vital for it's survival." "For the past 6 months, since Trump took office, we have been in a period of an absolute turmoil," says Apostolou. He said that the only alternative is to diversify exports to Mercosur countries in South America or to Mexico and India and urged the EU to sign a trade agreement with those countries. The EU was planning to approve a trade deal with Mercosur but has faced opposition from some countries. Still, there are also optimists "Trump is unpredictable. We hope that he will prove that and he will change this decision," said farmer Vangelis Karaindros as he and his employees picked ripe peaches by hand. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
It's official: the world's best island is in Europe and I visited this summer – it's stunning but has one big downside
PAROS has been voted the world's most beautiful island, and it happened to be where I went on holiday this year. It's got everything you want from a Greek destination with white and grey-lined pavements, chalky houses with blue window frames, all adorned with pink bougainvillea flowers hanging across from verandas - so I'm inclined to say it's a must-see. 7 7 Paros had never been on my radar up until this summer when it kept popping up on social media - and now it's been dubbed the 'best island in the world' by Travel + Leisure. The island is known for having beautiful beaches, traditional villages and a buzzing nightlife. Inspired by Instagram, I booked the tickets, confirmed an Airbnb, and was on my way. The journey wasn't an easy one I'll admit, my friend, Phoenix and I flew to Athens before getting on a connecting ferry to Paros, which took five hours. It was much cheaper than flying though, ferry trips to the island can be as little as €20 (£17.23). But if you're in a rush, you can fly from the UK to Athens, then take a connecting flight to Paros which is just 45 minutes. Of course, the island's major downside - how difficult it is to get there - is why it's also so wonderful, as it means that it has evaded the overtourism that has plagued some of the other pretty Greek islands. I was staying in the second largest town on the island, Naoussa, but the ferry stops at the capital Parikia. Parikia was chaotic, it's where you'll find the port and it's the hub of the island. Phoenix and I were ushered into a taxi by a very friendly local who drove for 20 minutes across the island to Naoussa where we found paradise. It was completely different to Parikia, the streets were quiet, there were incredible beaches and I could hear the chatter of stall owners at the local shops selling jewellery, linen dresses and souvenirs. The unknown European island that is the -new Mykonos- but with cheap hotels and quiet beaches 7 7 But unlike other places I've visited, the locals were friendly, didn't push me to buy anything and instead simply smiled. As I said, my trip was Instagram-inspired so there were already some pre-planned stops on holiday. The first was to Monastiri Beach, and beach club. It's one of those places that you'd only end up at if you know about it beforehand as it's tucked away on the north of the island. We took a water taxi across the bay to the club and got two return tickets for €13 (£11.20) - the taxi is regular, going back and forth every hour. Deciding to spend our day there, we rented out two sunbeds which were more like memory foam mattresses and a sun umbrella for €60 (£51.20). It was lively with a DJ and tasty cocktails available to order from the bar. Monastiri Beach was by far my favourite; apart from the club, it was remote with shallow and warm waters that were literally turquoise. Something I found about the island was that it remained quiet until 1am. We often booked to have dinner between eight and nine o'clock and it would still be peaceful with the bars not filling up until the early hours of the morning. That's when I discovered another Instagram hotspot on the island was called Barbarossa. It's a famous cocktail and seafood bar having served celebrities, members of royal families, and it has become a hit on social media because of its white cloth waving parties. I wouldn't say cocktails were cheap, but they weren't too expensive either, the average I spent on a drink was €17 (£14.65). 7 The food on the island was delicious, particularly the seafood - there were lots of sushi and fish risottos. Some of our favourites were Almond, Tsachpinis-Ouzeri ton Nautikon and Fotis All Day Bar. Luaz was especially popular as you get to eat dinner right on the water's edge which is particularly impressive during golden hour. As for activities, being an island, the boat tours and parties were a big hit and of course, we had to hop onboard one. We joined Captain Ben's Cruise which took us around the island, it stopped five times for us to dive into the water. On the way we stopped by the Blue Lagoon and a sea cave as well as Despotiko Island where we lazed about on Livadi Beach. The tickets were €110 (£94.77) each, that included the tour as well as breakfast, lunch, snacks, ice cream, and five alcoholic drinks throughout the cruise. My favourite part was when everyone dived into the water and had Prosecco in the water which bobbed around on an inflatable table. One thing I loved about the island is that it has everything you want out of a holiday. Whether that's a quiet spot on a sandy beach to relax, head off on a wild boat party, or eat authentic Greek food on a candlelit table. I'm so happy that Paros has been recognised for its beauty and everything it has to offer, but I'll be sad that it will no longer be the quiet gem I discovered. And here is another small Greek island with 70 beaches that experts say you should visit before it gets too popular. Plus, the four Greek islands you can easily hop between in one holiday – for as little as £6.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Tiny European island named the best in the world – and people say it's a ‘smaller Mykonos'
THE Greek island of Paros has been declared the best island in the world. Travel + Leisure 's annual World's Best Islands reveals some of the finest across the globe based on thousands of reader responses. 4 4 Paros is part of the Cyclades and last year was 24th on the list, but for 2025 has come in first place. Travel + Leisure readers said they loved the delicious food on the island as well as "picture-perfect blue and white villages like Naoussa. Paros was so well-loved by the voters that it received a vote of 96.50 out of 100. The Greek island has been up and coming for a while, a study last year by American Express Travel included the island in their 2025 Trending Destinations list. The website stated: "Laid-back Paros has become the Greek island of choice for many. "The cultural scene is vibrant here, and the rocky coastline is studded with beaches, secluded coves, and sea caves. "A mere 40-minute flight from Athens—or three hours on a ferry—this windblown retreat is also easy to get to." The main town on the island is Parikia which is not only the capital, but the port too. It's the hub for ferry traffic which connects it to neighbouring islands. One of the most popular towns on the island is Naoussa which is second largest on the island and has been called a "smaller version of Mykonos". How to do two Greek islands in one holiday - with stunning private-pool rooms 4 The town is on the northern side of the island and is considered one of the prettiest in the whole of the Cyclades with chalky white buildings and deep blue detailing. Lageri Beach, which is popular in Naoussa was described as being "heaven on earth" by more than one visitors on Tripadvisor. Up on the hillside is Lefkes, a mountain village surrounded by olive groves and pine forests. The village has winding stone streets full of bright, contrasting bougainvillea flowers. Being surrounded by the sparkling Aegean Sea means that Paros is popular for boat trips, snorkelling, diving and water skiing. The streets are lined with tiny cafes and bars which light up in the evening. There's also a vibrant nightlife scene with clubs and even boat parties. For anyone visiting Greece, Paros is pretty easy to visit thanks to the ferry service. From Mykonos, you can hop on the ferry to Paros which cost £28 and is just 45 minutes. Afterwards, you can explore the neighbouring island of Naxos which from Paros costs just £6 with Omnio, and is also the quickest journey taking 25 minutes.
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Telegraph
Mykonos was ruined by the party set – now they've set their sights on another Greek island
I visited Paros for the first time in the late 1980s. Stepping off the rusted ferry into bright sunshine in Paroikia's (then) tiny port felt like arriving in paradise – albeit a backpacker's paradise – and my days there were filled with long lazy meals outside bougainvillea-shaded, family-run fish tavernas in the tiny village of Naoussa, and afternoons at Piso Livadi's traditional kafenions (cafés) and golden beaches, where I'd often have the sands almost entirely to myself. Forty years later, around half a million people flock to Paros every summer, which – on an island the size of Liverpool, a city with half a million residents (to Paros' 12,000) – means today's visitors are unlikely to have more than a scrap of sand to themselves, let alone a whole beach. It was, until recently, still the 'the chilled alternative to Mykonos ' – as it was dubbed in a Vogue article – and the preserve of a handful of celebrities (amongst them Tom Hanks and his Greek wife, Rita Wilson, who have a house on the satellite island of Antiparos), drawn by hyper-exclusive hideaways like The Moonhouse, and a lack of prying eyes. But as is so often the way, the masses soon followed. Once renowned for its fine white marble, the island is now increasingly associated with glitzy beach clubs, gourmet restaurants and hip hotels, and resources are under strain. 'Rising costs for locals are a huge concern,' ceramic artist and long-time island resident Christiane Smit told me, while a recent LinkedIn post from former MEP and environmentalist Kriton Arsenis reported that, in the past five years alone, Paros has topped the demand for new building permits in the Cyclades, surpassing even Mykonos and Santorini, and 'been overbuilt at a dramatic pace'. 'You see it in the crowded streets, the traffic jams, the way people seem stressed,' explained Nikos Botsinis of Santorini Walking Tours, who moved to the island several years ago seeking a more authentic way of life. 'Both locals and the environment can feel the immense pressure of the tourism 'development'. But those in power are celebrating the 'success' of their decisions, turning a blind eye to the tsunami of issues that is approaching rapidly.' Increasingly frustrated with seemingly out-of-control development on the island, residents of Naoussa sent a petition to government representatives in 2022 asking them to put a halt to rampant building in the tiny resort, describing it as 'a severe test of all the fragile infrastructure of a small place'. In 2023, locals came together to create the Paros Citizens' Movement for Free Beaches – dubbed the 'Greek beach-towel movement' by foreign press – to protest what they describe as the 'illegal privatisation' of beaches in Greece. 'The law says no beach is private, yet there were huge swathes of beach covered by sunloungers and parasols rented for up to €100 per day, and we couldn't afford to use those areas,' one protester fumed. Despite government promises to clamp down, however, locals say that little has changed. 'Many hotels just removed the sunbeds when there was going to be an inspection and returned them once the inspectors had gone,' said one hotel barman. Nicolas Stephanou, who has lived on the island for 40 years, is also a member of the beach movement. 'The situation on the beaches likely acted as the final catalyst,' he said. 'The problem is that locals have started to feel like outsiders in their own community due to increasing frustration [caused by] invasive investors and a decline in their quality of life due to overtourism.' As the island still reels from the impact of last month's dramatic flash floods – which turned the streets of Naoussa into muddy rivers, flooded houses and businesses, and swept vehicles into the sea – officials claim that a combination of typhoon-strength gales and the heaviest rainfall in 20 years were responsible for the natural disaster. Critics, however, have been quick to point out the vital role played by the uncontrolled building of roads and hotels to cope with increased tourist traffic. 'When you cover a natural watercourse with asphalt and ignore it, the day will come when it pays you back – with interest,' commented journalist Thrixos Drakotidis, who reported on the floods for Greek newspaper Protothema. 'What turned it into a disaster wasn't just nature – it was the result of decades of unsustainable construction,' agreed Kriton Arsenis in another damning post. 'Villas, hotels, roads and swimming pools have replaced the dry-stone terraces that once held water, slowed down runoff and kept the soil alive.' There is some light on the horizon, however. Dimosthenis Leontis, who owns Paros Agnanti Resort & Spa (which became the island's first five-star hotel when it opened in 2016) and whose family has long-standing ties to the island and its hospitality industry, argues that Paros' burgeoning popularity doesn't have to lead to overtourism. 'We are proactively managing this by developing more towns around the island to better distribute visitors,' he explained, 'and we're mindful of keeping pricing accessible, so Paros remains welcoming rather than exclusive.' But they'll have to move fast. Visiting now, the island is a far cry from the unassuming, undeveloped outpost I fell in love with all those years ago, and if things continue in this vein, it will soon be too late to reverse the damage. On Mykonos, there is now little trace of the once charming traditional culture which gave the island so much heart – and if Paros doesn't act soon, choosing to prioritise the easy-spending party set over its own culture, I fear it's doomed to follow suit.
