Ano Ydroussa, a mountain village at an altitude of 900 metres, is situated between the town of Florina and the village Nymfaio in northern Greece.
Prior to our trip to Ano Ydroussa we were unaware of destination’s existence. This village does not differ to others in the wider area. They all feature charming old houses and are surrounded by greenery – lots of it. The location is a part of the country’s Macedonian region where many cows are nurtured and with which we share a long-distance connection through dairy company DELTA’s ‘Delta of Our Land’ milk, fresh and nutritious. We travelled to Ano Ydroussa to see how this fresh milk from these Macedonian pastures is made before reaching homes all over Greece.
Zaharoula Gini is one of the dairy farmers supplying the ‘Delta of Our Land’ milk that is distributed to homes around Greece. We met up with her out in the meadows, where she was with her cows, the dairy farmer’s usual daily routine, weather permitting. Experiencing the natural environment here explains why milk of high nutritional value is produced in the area. The setting is lush, the air is as fresh as can be, and serenity prevails. The fields are filled with grass and clover for the cows to graze on anywhere they go.
‘I recognise my cows through their characters’
Zaharoula Gini has lived in the area virtually all her life, since the age of two, when her parents decided to repatriate after migrating to Germany. She enjoys excellent ties with all the Ano Ydroussa locals, approximately 110 in total. But her cows are her true love. “I could be with the animals all day long,” the dairy farmer admitted. Her cows are not restricted to a shed but, instead, left free to roam. She wakes up at six every morning, has a cup of coffee, heads to the cow shed to milk her cows, and then lets them out to roam and graze freely. The dairy farmer and her herd return late in the afternoon when the cows are milked again before being left to rest in the warmth of their home base. It’s a challenging daily routine that definitely demands devotion from the dairy farmer. Mrs. Gini definitely loves her job. “The best part of my day is when I’m out with the cows and the weather is fine. I share their joy for being able to roam freely in nature,” the dairy farmer remarked. Indeed, the cows looked and sounded entirely satisfied during our visit.
Despite the affinity, Mrs. Gini has not given her cows names but says she is able to distinguish them based on their traits. “I recognise them through their characters. Some winge more than others, others like to be hosed down more when I wash them, others eat greater amounts of food, and so on,” explained Mrs. Gini. In all honesty, we could not tell which cows were eating more. They all seemed to be happily grazing the grass and clovers with equal amounts of appetite and pleasure. But, of course, their caretaker, unlike us, has the expertise to pick up on the finer details.
‘I recognise my cows through their characters’ / Photo: Maro Kouri
Given the fact that not every day can be sunny at a mountain village in Florina, the dairy farmer also uses animal feed such as corn and barley to nurture her cows. Mrs. Gini buys this animal feed from local farmers, thereby supporting the local economy while also making sure her herd is fed nutritiously.
I would not be able to do this if it weren’t for DELTA’
Livestock farming is a challenging occupation and anybody who chooses this line of work certainly does not do it to make a fortune. “I can’t imagine my life without my cows, they’re like family to me. And I would not be able to have them if it weren’t for my association with DELTA. The dairy company’s local rep maintains daily contact with me for whatever I need for my cows, be it food or health-related,” noted Mrs. Gini. “If I didn’t have this association with DELTA I would not be able to keep my animals as satisfied and healthy. And I certainly would not have had the pride of knowing that the fresh and healthy milk offered by my animals reaches homes throughout Greece.”
