Actions for the Andriotic Lemon
The Andriotic Lemon
The revival of the primary sector on the islands, and especially on Andros, is a sustainability goal linked to local identity, cultural heritage, and quality of life.
Despite the survival of lemon cultivation in the Livadia plain, a large part of the production remains unexploited, while lemons are being imported from abroad.
There is a need for:
documentation of traditional practices,
promotion of the area’s distinctive features,
linking cultivation with tourism and processing, with the aim of strengthening the local economy and the agri-food heritage.
Andros Research Center Actions
The program aims to highlight the traditional lemon cultivation of Andros and to connect nature with history through a digital audio guide. The process includes recording the sounds of the lemon grove and creating an audio tour with historical narratives from local producers. In addition, a mobile application is being developed for exploration and sound experiences from the area, offering an interactive encounter.
The program raises local community awareness about the preservation of the lemon grove and promotes the lemon as a local product, while at the same time supporting the agricultural sector.
The subject is the Andriotic lemon, approached through a cluster of actions for the study, documentation, and promotion of its cultivation, care, distribution, and processing — a centuries-old cultural heritage of Andros. The study area is the Livadia valley, where the history of the thick-skinned, highly aromatic, and resilient Andriot lemon began — a quality export product already since the 17th century. By combining scientific research with heritage interpretation methodology, and through close collaboration with growers, processors, and local cultural organizations, valuable tools for preservation and promotion are being developed.
