A series of half-hour shows produced by ERT for 2024-2025.

The idea, as the title of the show suggests, aims to present all the links in the production chain of a product, from the stage of seed selection to the final product that will be placed on the retail shelf.

The orientation is to highlight the primary sector and the processing industry, which deals with agricultural and livestock products throughout the Greek territory as much as possible.
The goal of the show is to give the viewer-consumer the opportunity to learn about these products through the personal stories of all those involved in the processes of production, processing, packaging, and marketing.
The impetus for the proposal to implement the show was the realization that the overwhelming majority of us consume a variety of products without knowing how they are produced, what nutritional benefits they offer, and how they are preserved before consumption.

When Dutch agronomist Pavlos Felix Herman Kuypers arrived in Ierapetra, Crete, in 1966 and decided to settle there, he began teaching the locals how to grow crops in greenhouses—starting with cucumbers and later expanding to other vegetables. He likely had no idea he was igniting an agricultural revolution, or that a statue would one day be erected in his honor in the region. Nearly six decades later, the foundation laid by the man often referred to simply as the Dutchman has proven strong enough to support an impressive agricultural structure. Today in Ierapetra, greenhouses are everywhere you look, cultivating a wide variety of vegetables. One of these is the greenhouse-grown cucumber. The show "Farm-Fresh, Straight to Your Shelf" traveled to the beautiful town in southeastern Lasithi to learn more about this crop, which is grown on about 7,000 acres—part of the 25,000 acres of greenhouses currently operating in Ierapetra. We also visited the largest vegetable research and experimental center in the area, where we learned about the hybrids tested each year to identify those that best meet the needs of producers and the market. We were also informed about the crucial role of water purity in maximizing both the yield and quality of the crops. Next, we joined the cucumber harvest, gaining insight into the product’s significant contribution to the local economy. With an average annual production approaching 150,000 tons—and over 80% of that exported to various countries—it’s clear how vital this crop is to the region. We also witnessed, in real time, how vegetable auction houses operate to protect the interests of producers. Finally, we observed the standardization process that takes place before the final product reaches retail shelves and consumers’ tables. The rest on your screen...