• Over 150 project participants cooperated in this project to help develop Crete as a model sustainable food destination
• More than 20 local wine labels from seven indigenous Cretan grape varieties were developed - two of which have been certified as organic
• Over 5,600 guests took part in over 350 food-tasting and food-cooking events aimed at promoting local products and food

Olive oil and wine play an important role in Crete's economy and are a vital part of Cretan culture and gastronomy. Conventional cultivation methods create a variety of challenges however, such as environmental pollution, soil degradation, loss of profits and the closure of many small farms. Sustainable solutions are the answer to these challenges.

In addition to agriculture, tourism is the main source of income and employment on the island and providing a sustainable and local range of food and beverages is becoming increasingly important to holidaymakers. Regional dishes which introduce guests to the local cuisine and culture are especially popular.

This is how the joint project "Crete – first steps towards a sustainable food destination" started. In cooperation with the Crete based social enterprise Local Food Experts and the German environmental consultants blueContec GmbH, local olive and grape growers were trained and supported to use sustainable crop techniques to cultivate Crete’s indigenous grape varieties, which also helped to improve their income and preserve Crete’s unique nature. The project applied self-assessment criteria for implementing sustainable crop management practices and recording the progress of farmers. Farmers and local food production units were then linked with local stakeholders in the tourism industry to offer holidaymakers sustainably produced products.

Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman of the Board of the TUI Care Foundation, said: “This project is at the core of our strategy to generate real benefits for local food producers by linking them to the tourism industry. After three years of implementation, our TUI Cares for Crete initiative has shown how we can successfully open channels of cooperation to support inclusive development, as well as protect the local cultural heritage. This is a solid strategy that we can now replicate in other destinations worldwide.”

Over the course of the project, 27 sustainable products have been produced:

• 21 wine labels from seven indigenous Cretan grape varieties (two of which were certified as organic according to EU regulations),
• Five olive oil labels of the Cretan variety Koroneiki (two of which were certified as organic) and
• One rusk bread from barley.

These products were promoted to the hotels participating in the project and integrated in their food supply chain. They were also put on sale in the hotel’s mini markets and offered to holidaymakers during interactive wine and olive oil tastings. In total, over 5,600 guests took part in the over 360 food-tasting and food-cooking events offered by the hotels.

Hotel employees were also given training on sustainable products, how they are produced and the project itself.

In cooperation with TUI Group, the project team also designed two exclusive and interactive excursions for TUI guests to experience the world of Cretan wine and olive oil and meet with the farmers and food producers. More than 235 guests have joined the sustainable excursions and praised the authentic and local flavour of their experience.

Throughout the duration of the project, over 1.5 million litres of wine and around 119,000 litres of olive oil were produced. Currently 13.5% of the local wines used in the project hotels are the Cretan project wines and 17% of the local olive oils used are the project olive oils.

Sustainable food production and sustainable tourism services were the pillars of the project. The project team is now carrying out a feasibility study to examine how these outstanding results can be expanded to other destinations, agricultural products and hotels.