INTRODUCTION

Since he was a child, Panagiotis Passas (32 years old, from Agaliada, rural Greece) was playing in the fields next to his father. He studied economics at the University of Athens, but the lights of the city did not catch him at all. With a degree in hand, he decided to try to make use of his father's land and property. Thus, with methodical and decisive steps, Panagiotis made extended his father's 300 acres into 1,100 acres, investing deeply into product standardization lines. The main product of the family business is watermelon, the production of which reaches 5,500 tons per year, being 100% vertical. Panagiotis, along with his brother, takes care of 200 acres of potatoes with a production of 1,200 tons per year, while reinvesting since 2015 in innovative greenhouses, in which they grow both watermelons and lettuce. The immediate goals of the company are the further increase of the land and its products, along with the construction of more greenhouses, with the aim of increasing their market in the domestic area, but also in those abroad, such as Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. For this reason, the two businessmen, who will soon become three, once the third brother graduates in agronomy, plan meticulously every single investment during every production cycle, with a minimum of 250,000 euros per year.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Today, Passas O.E. is still located in western Peloponnese and the main products are still watermelons and potatoes, grown in the fertile fields in the land of Ilia. Although the growing and harvesting processes are deeply traditional, the family brand embraced innovation, through solid investments, for modern units and plants to process, select, package and preserve fruits and vegetables.

From the time of replantation in the field, until the time of harvest, the fields are still inspected on a daily basis by the three siblings, along with specialized agriculturalists.

During the production process, all the certified methods are adopted: the products are then healthy for the customers, free of chemicals and rich in taste. Passas is therefore a good example of the usefulness of private investments in order to expand family-based brands and goods, being at the same time able to preserve the original core business and working methods.