Every year the farming world on Lesvos gages their olive intake from the previous season. Last season, November 2013- February 2014 wasn't very productive for some farmers.

How does this impact the rest of us on the island? Well, I've been looking to send oil to the States for the last 6 months. I went to my usual connection and didn't even get a call back. My neighbors who in the past have generously supplied my family had barely enough for themselves.

Finally, after meeting up with a longtime friend and getting into the politics of olive oil, he suggested that I go to the Stypsi Cooperative. Through another connection, I went to my long time friend and known as the Donkey man, Mixaelis. An ouzo at Beba's Corner (Petra), another urging that I needed oil and then a stop on the street in Ipsilometopo yielded me 2 17 kilo cans of liquid gold.

Three days later, in walked Mixaelis right to my apothiki (storeroom) with the cans from the Stypsi Cooperative. And this is how it works on Lesvos.

Just so you know in the past 35 years this liquid gold hasn't changed price on the island. The can is 50 euros. Once you get the can in your possession then you have to take it to Mytilini to an agency that takes another 40 euros per can and sends it to the good ol' US of A the slow container way. Six months later, the export/import company in the States calls your contact there and you have to pay another 25 dollars on top of that to pick it up!

Why do we as Americans pay so much for this liquid gold? The answer is quite simple- first of all when the Patriarch of the family asks for it you supply it and you can't find a better olive oil in the world. Yes, of course we are biased being from Lesvos.

The olive oil connoisseurs in New York voted our neighbor Crete the best olive oil in a competition last year. Even the Cretans have nothing on us Lesbians! Again, I am being biased.

The proof is in the taste! And your palate approves every time you have a delicious meal with the liquid gold. This is why it's important to support local olive producers because they supply us with Liquid Gold!

#oliveoil #stypsicooperative #liquidgold