When Christmas shopping this year, stop for a moment and think of Greece. Think if you purchase something that was made in Greece, how many people benefit from that choice.

From the farmers, to the truck drivers, manufacturers and banks, every purchase has a roll on effect to help Greece. And during this current time, Greece needs our help more than ever: that’s why we are urging everyone to buy Greek this Christmas.

Food is a great Greek export. From the local olive oil, the feta and cheeses, the olives, the herbs, the wines, the Greek beers, the sweets, the juices and soft drinks, the mineral waters, the Greek pastas (zimarika) – they all taste so much better.

So why not make sure that the arni you have on the souvla this Christmas is lathered in Greek olive oil and mountain grown and exported rigani and that baklava in the oven is soaked in Greek honey. Make sure your Christmas table is decked out with Greek delicacies from the olives, tinned dolmathes and feta as snacks, to the drinks that you have on the day.

Drink Greek wine and beer on Christmas day and Greek soft drinks and juices for the young ones. Even with the presents you buy, get a Greek bottle of wine as a gift. Create Christmas hampers using all Greek products and help food importers and distributors keep bringing Greek products to Australia.

You’re spending money anyway so why not showcase our culture and help Greece at the same time? And if we keep doing this it won’t be long before we see products available at more outlets, perhaps even supplying a mainstream supermarket or even sponsoring our community events.

So have a great festive season and do yourself, your family, Greece and Greek culture a favour: Buy Greek this Christmas.