World News for Students of English

08-12-2023 15:00

Greek olive growers, who are facing a challenging harvest, are confronting a rise in thefts as prices increase.

Panagiotis Tsafaras, a seasoned grower, has experienced thefts twice, losing over a ton of olives in one incident. Such thefts are unprecedented in the region, prompting growers to take measures like installing cameras, and GPS trackers, and even considering private security. Thieves operate mainly at night, and they employ various tactics, such as using rods to knock olives off trees or silent electric chainsaws to cut entire branches. This surge in olive theft is a nationwide issue, confirmed by Greek police.

Greece, the world’s third-largest olive oil producer, is known for its high-quality extra virgin variety. This year’s production is anticipated to drop by up to 50% due to adverse weather conditions.

Difficult words: confront (to deal with a problem or difficulty), unprecedented (never done or known before), tactic (a planned way of doing something).

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