📸 CARDASSILARIS FAMILY GALLERY

Explore historical posters packaging and print archives since 1862

Enjoy a curated collection of vintage images from the Cardassilaris Family archive, showcasing timeless posters, iconic packaging, and original prints from Cardassilaris brands that shaped the Mediterranean export legacy since 1862.

🍊 THE CHIOS HERITAGE OF CITRUS AND MASTIC

For centuries, the island of Chios has been famed for its citrus orchards and precious mastic gum.

• Citrus cultivation dates back to 1400
• The export of fruit and juices in barrels was first documented in 1474
• For almost 350 years, Chios thrived as a major fruit-exporting hub

🛠 FROM INVASION TO REBIRTH

• In 1822, the Turkish invasion devastated local agriculture, halting production entirely
• By 1833, local growers had begun replanting orchards and restoring the citrus economy
• In 1862, Cardassilaris Bros was established and began exporting fruit to Russia in handcrafted wooden boxes
• Each fruit was individually wrapped, and topped with a branded poster, building one of the earliest examples of Mediterranean fruit branding

🌍 WORLD WAR II AND POSTWAR RECOVERY

During World War II, Chios once again saw its production halted:

• The island's exports were entirely redirected to the German army
• Cardassilaris Bros, as local representative of the German firm Sefel and Smith, was compelled to supply fruit exclusively to occupying forces
• After the war, export activity resumed, restoring Chios’s position on the global stage

🔗 A Legacy That Lives On

From orchard to archive, each piece in this gallery tells the story of resilience, quality, and innovation in Greek agricultural history.
Cardassilaris Family continues this tradition, honoring the past while shaping the future.