Creta Maris Holds ‘Traditional Harvest Day’ on Crete

The Creta Maris Beach Resort, located in Hersonissos on Crete, recently held the “Traditional Harvest Day”, aiming to introduce its guests to the Cretan local products, the rural work and the process of grape growing and wine making.

Α certified member of the “We do local” initiative, the resort held the event within the framework of the “TUI Care Foundation – FUTOURIS Project: Crete, First Steps Towards a Sustainable Food Destination 2017-2019”.

The harvest “ritual” began with the collection of the grapes from the vineyard. The grapes were transferred to the winepress in the traditional way – by donkey – for the production of the grape must. Following the distillation process the “raki” traditional alcoholic drink was produced, as well as the grape must jelly.

All activities were accompanied by music, dancing, and delicacies, which are the main features of Cretan hospitality.

“The aim of the ‘Traditional Harvest Day’ was to highlight the island’s long tradition in grape growing and winemaking,” the Creta Maris Beach Resort said in an announcement. The guests’ participation in the process was significant and gave them a valuable insight of the Cretan lifestyle, culture and traditions.

The German non-profit organization FUTOURIS e.V. supports the implementation of sustainable development projects in destinations of interest to its members, which include some of the most well-known travel agencies and tour operators. TUI Austria co-funds the project, which is further supported by the wider TUI tourism organization. The project was initiated in January 2016 and will be completed in December 2017.

“We do local” is a project first launched by local entrepreneurs on the island of Crete, in cooperation with the certification control body Cosmocert and Local Food Experts. The initiative has expanded to other locations in Greece and today counts 28 certified members.