From October 19 to 25, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese welcome the public to their farms, production facilities, and processing plants
The Region of South Aegean, in collaboration with Open Farm, is launching a new initiative focused on gastronomy, agritourism, and hands-on experiences with local produce.
The South Aegean Open Farm Days 2026, taking place from October 19 to 25, invite residents and visitors to get to know firsthand the people, products, and processes behind the food that ends up on our tables.
Farms and agricultural and processing businesses in the Cyclades and the Dodecanese are opening their doors and offering guided tours, tastings, workshops, presentations, and hands-on experiences, creating a shared map for exploring the islands’ culinary riches.
The activities will be organized along two major island routes:
· South Aegean – Cyclades Open Farm Days 2026
· South Aegean – Dodecanese Open Farm Days 2026
A new initiative that invests in island producers
The South Aegean Open Farm Days are not merely a series of public events. They are a new initiative that creates opportunities for promotion, education, and development for the islands’ producers and processors.
Participating farms receive, at no cost:
· a digital profile on the South Aegean Open Farm Days network via the Open Farm platform,
· promotion of their businesses and activities through the initiative’s communication campaign,
· participation in “Train the Farmers” training sessions on agritourism, storytelling, visitor hospitality, and sustainable practices,
· the opportunity to create their own experience for the public, choosing the format, day, and time that works best for them.
In this way, production is more meaningfully linked to tourism and gastronomy, while agritourism creates new opportunities for outreach and additional income for island producers.
The new generation gets to know the land that nourishes them
Experiential learning for children and young people plays a special role in this new initiative. Through organized visits and activities, they will have the opportunity to learn about the origins of food, the people involved in production, the crops and animals, as well as the traditions and culture associated with food.
From Candidacy to Action
The South Aegean Open Farm Days 2026 are part of the broader plan of the Region of South Aegean, which has submitted its candidacy for the title of World Gastronomy Region 2028, with the central message:
“South Aegean—from ancient pride to future heritage.”
The bid for the title is not viewed as a purely symbolic honor, but as a catalyst for mobilizing and accelerating specific actions that leave a lasting legacy in the region, support local producers, and link primary production with gastronomy, tourism, education, and sustainable development.
Statement by George Hatzimarkos, Regional Governor of the South Aegean
“In the South Aegean, we are well aware of the treasure we hold in our hands. Perhaps, however, we do not always know its history: who produces it, how it is grown, how it is processed, and how much knowledge, tradition, and hard work lie behind a product that reaches our table.
With the South Aegean Open Farm Days, we’re opening that door. We want children and young people to reconnect with the land, food, and the people who produce it, to learn about the origins of what they consume, and to develop a more conscious and sustainable relationship with food.
At the same time, we want to provide our producers with new opportunities. Agritourism can become yet another tool for outreach and a source of additional income for island producers, transforming the production process itself into an authentic experience for visitors.
This is precisely how we view our candidacy for the World Gastronomy Region. Not as a title we’re simply vying for, but as an opportunity to do more, do it better, and do it sustainably. The South Aegean Open Farm Days are yet another step in this direction.”
Online Information Sessions
To better inform producers and businesses interested in participating, two online informational sessions will be held on August 31 and September 1, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Participants will learn about the new program, its philosophy, the opportunities it offers, and how to participate, while also having the opportunity to ask questions and discuss how they can get involved in the activities.
The same Zoom link applies to both meetings:
Call to Producers
The Region of South Aegean invites producers and processing companies from the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to become part of this new initiative and open the doors to their production facilities.
Participation is free.
Eligible to participate are producers in the primary sector of plant or animal production and food and beverage processing companies operating in the Cyclades and the Dodecanese that wish to offer the public organized experiences such as guided tours, tastings, workshops, or participation in production activities.
A prerequisite is registration with the OSDE for primary-sector producers and the operating license or notification required by law for processing companies.
Those interested can obtain information and register to participate on the Region’s website at https://www.pnai.gov.gr/ (by clicking on the relevant banner) as well as HERE (https://openfarm.gr/south-aegean-cyclades-open-farm-days-2026/) for the Cyclades & HERE (https://openfarm.gr/south-aegean-dodecanese-open-farm-days-2026/) for the Dodecanese.
After submitting the form, the team from the Region of South Aegean and Open Farm will contact interested parties regarding the next steps and their enrollment in the educational program.
Information:
Open Farm
Panagiotis Papadopoulos – panagiotis@openfarm.gr – 6978 999279
Marina Kavalieraki – marina@openfarm.gr
South Aegean Open Farm Days 2026
From the land to the table. From experience to knowledge. From production to the future.