Laconia family firm imports top Greek olive oil to the USA

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Laconia family firm imports top Greek olive oil to the USAThe story of a family business rooted in Laconia, Greece that imports some of the world’s best Greek extra virgin olive oil and flavored olive oil to the USA

By Lisa Radinovsky

In 2009, two brothers from the village of Skala in Laconia, Greece decided they should not sell the olive groves that had been in their family for four generations. Instead, they embarked on a challenging venture that takes them back and forth across the ocean, from the land in Greece that gives them their olive oil to their current base in the US.

Their father, Vasilios Pierrakos, had remained in Greece to care for their olive groves when the rest of the family left the farm years earlier, emigrating to the USA in search of a brighter future for the two brothers and their two sisters. As he grew older, however, Vasilios became tired. His hard work on the farm, his distance from his family, and his disappointment that his beloved Koroneiki olive trees were not gaining the recognition they deserved were wearing him out. He began to wonder, should the family sell their land?

Vasilios’s sons, Diamantis and Dino, said no. Unwilling to relinquish the olive trees that connected them with their homeland and its traditions, they decided to establish their own olive oil brand. With the support of the entire family, the brothers dedicated themselves to following in their father’s footsteps, continuing the tradition of their forebears with the honesty, integrity, and hard work they learned from their father’s example.

Emphasizing their Greek roots and identity, Diamantis and Dino Pierrakos named their brand “Laconiko” after the region where they and their olives originate, the region once dominated by the ancient Spartans: Laconia. They import their authentic, 100% Greek, monovarietal, single estate extra virgin olive oil and flavored olive oils into the USA.

The brothers attribute the many awards their olive oil has received at prestigious international olive oil competitions to their team’s great care during olive oil production and storage. They cultivate their trees using organic methods, handpick their olives during an early harvest when the olives yield the healthiest and most flavorful oil, transport the fruit in crates rather than bags to avoid premature crushing, extract the olives’ oil within hours of their harvest to ensure the highest quality, and store their extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) at a consistently cold temperature to keep it fresh.

Dedicated to the health of both human beings and the planet, Diamantis, Dino, and their team are working toward organic certification of their olive groves, which are located in a protected Natura 2000 area near the Evrotas River estuary at the southeastern tip of Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. They use no chemical pesticides and no more irrigation than necessary. Located just meters from the sea, the groves’ sandy soil acts as a natural filter, removing contaminants and helping to keep their 5,000 Koroneiki olive trees pure and healthy. The trees thrive in that ideal sunny climate, surrounded by herbs and wildflowers and touched by the sea breeze.

The Pierrakos family is especially proud of the high polyphenol content in their extra virgin olive oils. Polyphenols, or phenolic compounds, are natural antioxidants with antimicrobial, anti-atherogenic, and antiviral effects; one of them, oleocanthal, is an anti-inflammatory comparable to ibuprofen. Scientific studies also suggest some of the phenolic compounds found in extra virgin olive oil may help prevent and treat cancer and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Laconiko EVOOs have far lower acidity and peroxide values than the International Olive Council or the even stricter California Olive Oil Council require for an olive oil to be designated “extra virgin.” All of this means Laconiko extra virgin olive oil is healthier than many other olive oils, with its fresh flavor lasting longer. Laconiko’s complex, well-harmonized combination of fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency has been praised and awarded by countless consumers, tasters, judges, and major media outlets, winning multiple awards in international olive oil competitions every year.

Diamantis Pierrakos in front of a large crate of harvested green olives
Diamantis and Dino returned to Laconia each year to help their father with the olive harvest. This was a labor of love and a time of bonding until their father passed away suddenly in the midst of the 2016 harvest. Although deeply saddened, their family continued Vasilios’s work, dedicating their efforts to him and the values he passed on to them. They were grateful that Vasilios had lived to see many of Laconiko’s accomplishments.

Once their family business was established, Laconiko branched out into the enticing arena of flavored olive oils, vinegar, and olive oil soaps. Made with their Koroneiki extra virgin olive oil, Laconiko’s dozens of different flavored olive oils have proven popular and widely acclaimed. In 2020 alone, their flavored oils won an astonishing 73 awards from eight different international olive oil competitions, from Los Angeles to Tokyo. And that is in addition to their 26 awards for their two EVOOs in the same year.

Even so, Diamantis and Dino are not content to rest on their laurels; rather, they continue to “give 200% effort as we always have,” as Diamantis puts it. Nor do they just say they believe in integrity and family values; they show it. During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, they donated the profits earned from their online sales to the brick and mortar stores that had to close down during quarantine. Those stores had believed in and supported them before they became a recognized, successful brand, so the brothers wanted to help them continue during a difficult time.

As Laconiko’s website explains, in selling their own brand of healthy, flavorful Greek extra virgin olive oil, “we were sharing the essence of our family legacy. This oil symbolizes generational aspiration, parental sacrifice, time-honored tradition, hopes, dreams, love, passion, community, connection, hard work, integrity, and the soul of a family that believes in its product, and in each other.” The Pierrakos family and their team are determined to honor those values and that legacy by continuing their honest efforts to produce the best, healthiest Greek extra virgin olive oil and flavored oils they can provide to their customers.

Thanks to Laconiko for the photos used with this article.

All businesses, organizations, and competitions involved with Greek olive oil, the Mediterranean diet, and/or agrotourism or food tourism in Greece, as well as anyone else interested in supporting Greeks working in these sectors, are invited to consider the advertising and sponsorship opportunities on the Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil website. The only wide-ranging English-language site featuring news and information from the Greek olive oil world, it has helped companies reach consumers in more than 210 countries around the globe.

“Originally published on Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (greekliquidgold.com). See that site for recipes with olive oil, photos from Greece, and olive oil news and information.”

Photo Source: pixabay

Tornos
  1. 28/03 18:41

    Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups

  2. 28/03 17:32

    Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form

  3. 28/03 15:46

    Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network

  4. 28/03 14:44

    IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece

  5. 28/03 11:49

    IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects

  6. 26/03 23:51

    St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ

  7. 26/03 21:59

    PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination

  8. 26/03 17:56

    Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros

  9. 26/03 11:45

    Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council

  10. 23/03 17:43

    New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31

  11. 23/03 16:49

    Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend

  12. 23/03 16:47

    Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm

  13. 22/03 21:54

    US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever

  14. 22/03 19:51

    High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece

  15. 22/03 19:32

    Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece

  16. 22/03 14:19

    Greece to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday

  17. 22/03 00:24

    Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress

  18. 22/03 00:02

    Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle

  19. 21/03 22:41

    Greek Finance Ministry tightens Golden Visa rules

  20. 21/03 15:33

    Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens

  21. 20/03 22:48

    Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries

  22. 20/03 21:52

    Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens

  23. 20/03 21:44

    Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote

  24. 20/03 20:55

    Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance

  25. 20/03 18:01

    Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece

  26. 19/03 22:28

    President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens

  27. 19/03 20:57

    Greek Tourism Minιster meets Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

  28. 19/03 20:25

    FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy

  29. 19/03 11:15

    Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin

  30. 18/03 22:20

    American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President

  31. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  32. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  33. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  34. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  35. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  36. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  37. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  38. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  39. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  40. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  41. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  42. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  43. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  44. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  45. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  46. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  47. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  48. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  49. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  50. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  51. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  52. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  53. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  54. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  55. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  56. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  57. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  58. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  59. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  60. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  61. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  62. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  63. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  64. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  65. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  66. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  67. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  68. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  69. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  70. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  71. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  72. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  73. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  74. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  75. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  76. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  77. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  78. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  79. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  80. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  81. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  82. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  83. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  84. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  85. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  86. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  87. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  88. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  89. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  90. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  91. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  92. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  93. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  94. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  95. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  96. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  97. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  98. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  99. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  100. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April