Articles
SWEET CHESTNUT: FROM THE “KASTANIA” OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS TO MODERN DAYS
Article number
866_71
Pages
527 – 530
Language
English
Abstract
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) moved from the Caucasus Mountains westwards to reach Mount Rhodope (N. Greece) 2000 years B.C. Human movement, and especially the Greeks and the Romans, carried it all along the Southern European coast all the way to the Iberian Peninsula.
In Greece, sweet chestnut is cultivated in orchards for nut production and in coppice forests for timber production.
As in other European countries, nuts in Greece are mainly consumed while fresh, either roasted or boiled, three months before and three months after Christmas.
Nut processing is minimal.
Its promotion will give the market a variety of chestnut products and will extend the consumption time.
Coppicing is an intensive and profitable form of management.
Chestnut lumber can bring remarkably high prices in the market because of its durability and aesthetic value.
Chestnut blight, desertion of mountainous villages followed by the abandonment of orchards and lack of a long-term policy encouraging production are the main factors contributing to the decline of chestnut cultivation in Greece.
Application of biological control against chestnut blight on a national scale has already shown positive results.
It is quite realistic to state that nut and timber production in Greece can be doubled if a series of measures are taken.
In Greece, sweet chestnut is cultivated in orchards for nut production and in coppice forests for timber production.
As in other European countries, nuts in Greece are mainly consumed while fresh, either roasted or boiled, three months before and three months after Christmas.
Nut processing is minimal.
Its promotion will give the market a variety of chestnut products and will extend the consumption time.
Coppicing is an intensive and profitable form of management.
Chestnut lumber can bring remarkably high prices in the market because of its durability and aesthetic value.
Chestnut blight, desertion of mountainous villages followed by the abandonment of orchards and lack of a long-term policy encouraging production are the main factors contributing to the decline of chestnut cultivation in Greece.
Application of biological control against chestnut blight on a national scale has already shown positive results.
It is quite realistic to state that nut and timber production in Greece can be doubled if a series of measures are taken.
Publication
Authors
S. Diamandis
Keywords
chestnut cultivation, nut production, chestnut blight
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