With the goal of preserving tradition and highlighting the island of Lemnos, Dimitris and Nikos Poriazis started in 1981, in the village of Portianou, the preservation of the seeds of the local wheat variety “Lemnos” and the barley variety “Panagia.” Their aim was to cultivate these varieties and create products that stand out in quality and taste, showcasing the unique characteristics of Lemnos’ land.
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Από αριστερά: Η Φωτεινή Ποριάζη με τον πατέρα της Δημήτρη Ποριάζη και την ξαδέρφη της Αναστασία Ποριάζη.
Contract Farming
In addition to the acres they cultivate themselves, they also collaborate with 15 other producers for wheat and barley cultivation on the island. “For the past 15 years, my brother and I have been working to collaborate with other producers through contract farming.
We faced challenges, as many landowners had fields but did not cultivate them. So, to motivate them to start farming, we offered to provide them with seeds—since we also engage in seed production—supervise the process, share our expertise, and guarantee an attractive price for purchasing their wheat and barley. This practice continues today, as we buy at around 25-26 cents per kilo,” says Mr. Poriazis.
To ensure a stable production of wheat and barley, given the risks of crop loss due to diseases or weather conditions, the family also cultivates the wheat variety “Simeto” and the barley variety “Claudio.”
Products
Bread and rusks were the first products the family started producing in 1981. Today, under the brand name “Poriazis Family Lemnos,” they produce traditional rusks, local pasta known as “Flomaria”, wheat-based trahana, and Lemnos flour.
Now responsible for the processing and promotion of these products is the fourth generation of the family, consisting of the five daughters of Nikos and Dimitris Poriazis. Fotini, Dimitris’ daughter, explains: “The milling of whole wheat and whole barley flour is partially done in our own stone mill, while the yellow wheat flour is ground in the only mill on the island.
We package and sell the flour in supermarket chains, along with our rusks. Additionally, for the past five years, we have been producing traditional pasta called “Flomaria”. The family also serves both their village and neighboring ones through their own store.
Great Taste Award
The family’s commitment to quality and unique flavor was recognized at the Great Taste Awards. Fotini explains: “Among approximately 15.000 products tested and competing, ours won a Great Taste Award in last year’s competition.
The tasting process was blind, meaning the judges did not know where each product came from. Their feedback highlighted our product’s distinct flavor and the quality of its raw ingredients.” The family’s goal is to offer a complete taste experience through simple products like rusks and pasta.
On their website, lemnosbakery.gr, visitors can read articles about the primary sector, folklore and gastronomy, as well as find all the points of sale for their products.
Future Plans
Although their fathers were initially concerned about the future of the business, today, all five daughters are actively involved in its different aspects. “We grew up observing every step of the process, from production to sales, and each of us took the time to decide whether we wanted to pursue this professionally,” says Fotini.
The family’s immediate plans include building a new mill from scratch to fully control the grain milling process in-house.
