« I belong to the fourth generation of the Karanikas Mills. I even might be older. This is not important since life catches you up and you don’t meet your grand-grandparents. You are lucky if you have at least your parents.

I had the blessing to meet my grandmother Kiriakoula, the miller lady, my father’s mother. She used to sleep beside the mill, in the small kitchen.  She cooked for the workers, making bread and pies with her strong hands and always blessing it, walking the cows and feeding the ducks and chickens. She kept singing all the time and dancing with me when around. She was the “mania” of the village, the wise old lady with the golden coins on ears , she who healed with her power anyone who might asked her to. She was sleeping on evenings on the grass and was surrounded of all kinds of animals and plants. Used to drink different herbs to stay strong.

A very powerful woman she was and a great worker. She lived until old age because she enjoyed and appreciated the simple things in life.

That old mill is still operational and a true museum, just because the old miller, Mr Vagelis (the older miller in Greece) is there and keeps it running. My father offered him the job since he was 10 years old and he is still working at the same mill for over 70 years.

My grandfather died very young and so my father had to take over prematurely in order to keep the mill and to grow his brother and sister. The war and it’s consequences made him stronger. He learned that wheat and people are more valuable than weapons. They are life itself. The most valuable asset after health.

So my father established a new contemporary mill, at Alexandria Imathias. Later i started working at that mill in Alexandria along with my brother Thomas. As a girl I watched my mother, my aunt and my grandmother kneading and I dreamed to make flour easy to use and to make them happy to knead. My father gave my name to the flour and later I studied milling at Switzerland. I made pies and bread just because I wanted to thank the Roumlouki ladies and all the housewives who acknowledged, loved and appreciated my effort. They remind me always the responsibility of mine to them.

When I realized that we live in the region not more than 30 km from the palace of King Alexander at Vergina, half an hour from the Aristoteles school near Naousa and on the area where Penelope Delta (Greek writer-award winner) wrote the “Secrets of the swamp”, I felt the duty to my ancestors to create products equal to their value.

The housewives of our region, understood our efforts. They are supporting us for many years and through them our products are renounced and famous around Greece.

THANK YOU ALL

«With respect»

Koula Karanika