For the second consecutive year, the Municipality of Thessaloniki has launched its groundbreaking community initiative, turning olives collected from city trees into high-quality olive oil for residents in need.

Municipal employees began picking olives on Tuesday along Aggelaki Street, marking the start of this year’s “urban olive harvest” season. In the coming days, olive collection will continue across the northern port city from its famous boardwalk and City Hall to the Vlatadon Monastery, university campuses, and other public spaces.

The olives will then be taken to the Lemperos Olive Oil Press in Epanomi, where they’ll be processed into olive oil. Bottling is also carried out there thanks to a donation from the press.

Thessaloniki, Greece. Nov. 4, 2025

The initiative, dubbed “Thermaikos Chrysos” or “Gold of the Thermaic Gulf”, takes its name from the Thessaloniki bay. Beyond producing olive oil, the project highlights the value of city trees and promotes environmental awareness among residents.

A total of 1,300 kilograms of olives were collected last year, yielding 150 liters of extra virgin olive oil, which were distributed to low-income households through the city’s Social Grocery Store and to local kindergartens.

Attending Tuesday morning’s harvest, Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Aggeloudis said the initiative was aimed at offering both social support but also igniting citizen engagement in protecting and appreciating the city’s green spaces. Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Urban Greenery and Urban Fauna Vassilis Diamantakis added that laboratory analyses confirmed the oil’s exceptional quality, classifying it as extra virgin.