Olives have been grown in the village of Thrapsano from the most ancient times.
Production and storage of extra virgin olive oil is attested by comparison of the earthenware jars of the Minoan period inthe palaces of Knossos with those still made today by the potters of the village and also by the will of Andrea Giacomo Kornaros indicating Thrapsano as a fief of his family.
Olive-producing holdings are properly registered throughout Greece, since under Community legislation growers are required, in order to be paid the olive oil production aid that has been available for the last 20 years, to submit a 'cultivation declaration' that is kept up to date and gives details of the holding.
The 'inspection structure' (Article 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92) is the Prefectural Agriculture Directorate, which holds the up-to-date data as mentioned above for each holding and in line with the Ministerial Decisions stemming from PD 61/93 monitors in detail the entire production process and handling, market preparation (bottling) and marketing of this cretan olive oil and certifies its origin.
