Establishment

The Agricultural Cooperative "Union of Agrinio" was established in 1930 by the Cooperatives of tobacco and olive producers, who were developing their action in the region of Trichonis, Xiromero and Valtos of Aetoloakarnania prefecture.

The Union’s fundamental objectives were:

• To improve and promote members’ economy using the aid of the Union that was enhancing and coordinating of their activities.
• To undertake the activities provided for its members either on their behalf or on its own account.

In 1935 the Union became a founding member of the Pan-Hellenic Confederation of Unions of Agricultural Co-operatives (PASEGES).

During the 20th century, the Union of Agrinio continued to strengthen its role in the agricultural matters of our district and established units processing the agricultural products of its members. The cooperative factory for olives’ processing and standardization (1954) was the first of its kind in Western Greece.

At the same time, the Union emphasized its social and trade union activities.

Especially during the post WW II and post Civil War period, when the situation in the rural areas was dramatic and there was not any other entity representing the interests of the farmers, the Union led demonstrations and raised demands on solving multiple problems that the preceded abnormal periods had accumulated.

In the divisive environment of that period, the Agricultural Cooperative Union of Agrinio and Cooperatives in general played a very important, unifying role.

Entering the new millennium, the Union of Agrinio has been up-to-date with the national and international developments regarding the agricultural sector and has not only attempted but also managed to adapt to the new data in good time.

Overcoming preconceptions and attitudes of the past regarding the farmer’s role and the role of his/her representative bodies, the Union is struggling for the prevalence of entrepreneurial thinking at all levels and the attainment of increased competitiveness within the frame of cooperative principles and values.

A recent example serving the above logic, which at the same time demonstrates the Union's reflexes to market requirements was the creation of the photovoltaic systems department in the summer of 2010. The department has managed to methodically and responsibly administer almost 700 files of photovoltaic parks installation in the prefectures of Aetoloakarnania and Corfu.

Activities

The Union alongside with its five branches is operating at the 75% approx. of the prefecture Aetoloakarnania.

Its activities cover the full range of its members’ demands and aim -through partnerships with research and educational institutions and the Union’s participation in experimental and pilot programs- at detecting and exploring future prospects. Recent examples of this kind are the tree crops and the cultivation of Stevia plant for the first time in Greece.