According to Homer, the cultivation of olives dates back to prehistoric times. What is known is that the olive is cultivated from 3000 BC.
In Halkidiki, olive cultivation and olive oil production have a long history, which dates back to antiquity. There are indications of its existence in many historical references of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods, while the archaeological dig brought from time to time several findings that testify to the relationship and the connection of the inhabitants with the olive tree.
In many archeological sites of Halkidiki, stone olive mills have been identified which prove the involvement of the inhabitants with olive growing.
During the Bronze Age, appeared the stone cylinders which were handled either by hand or with a wooden lever, while later appeared the cylindrical crusher that could work with the power of animals. Then the introduction of the vertical millstone is very important because it presupposes the use for the first time of the rotary motion in a conversion machine. The oldest example of this type comes from Olynthos, Halkidiki and dates back to the 4th century BC, so it is one of the oldest evidence of the operation of this method of oil production.
Towards the middle of the 19th century, the systematic involvement of the people of Halkidiki with the olive-growing sector began. The causal relationship of Halkidiki with the olive, as a productive tree and as a fruit, is supported by the cultivation and production of olive products in the area for centuries based on documented historical data but also by the preservation of numerous folklore traditions. The olive tree in Halkidiki, during at least the last two centuries is an important point of reference, as well as in the economic life and in the social activity and cultural tradition of the inhabitants.
The fruit of the olive tree has been a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, abundance, health, strength and beauty since ancient times. The ancient Greeks considered olives a symbol of goodness, kindness, while even today the olive branches symbolize peace.
Olive growing is an important element of the Halkidiki tradition and inextricably linked to it, through the centuries.