Israeli Kiwi Harvest Surges 20% Despite Northern War Damage
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
Israel's kiwi harvest is projected to increase by 20% to 12,000 tons this year, driven by maturing orchards and favorable weather. The harvest in the Galilee and Golan Heights began recently and will continue until December. Despite war damage to some northern orchards, farmers worked to maintain production, ensuring high-quality fruit for the domestic market, which consumes about 12,000 tons annually.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli kiwi harvest expected to reach 12,000 tons, a 20% increase from last year.
- Maturing young orchards and favorable weather boosted the 2023 kiwi yield.
- Domestic kiwi is primarily for the Israeli market, with imports supplementing supply.
- Israeli kiwi quality is considered among the world's highest and price-competitive.
- Northern orchards near Lebanon suffered war damage but continued harvesting.
The Israeli kiwi harvest, primarily in the Galilee and Golan Heights, has commenced and is expected to continue until December. The Fruit Growers Association anticipates a 20% increase in the yield, reaching approximately 12,000 tons this year, up from about 10,000 tons last year.
According to Shi Golani, chairman of the Kiwi Growers' Table in Israel, this growth is attributed to the maturation of young orchards, some of which have begun bearing fruit this season, while others have reached the productivity levels of mature trees. Many of these new orchards are located in the Golan Heights. Golani also noted that favorable winter and spring weather, including sufficient "chill units" and a warm spring aiding pollination, contributed to the increased yield.
Kiwi cultivation in Israel spans about 3,700 dunams, mainly in the Upper Galilee, Western Galilee, and Golan Heights, areas suited for the crop due to their need for cold winters and mild summers. The fruit grown domestically is intended for the local market, where consumption peaks in winter. Yaron Balasan, CEO of the Fruit Growers Association, highlighted research and development efforts that extend the fruit's shelf life to 10 months, maintaining quality, texture, and taste, with the fruit remaining fresh in home refrigerators for up to three weeks.
Israel consumes an average of 12,000 tons of kiwi annually. When the local supply is exhausted, supplementary imports of 2,000-3,000 tons are sourced from countries like New Zealand, Greece, and Italy. Balasan asserts that Israeli kiwi quality is among the world's highest and competitive in price. He also mentioned that some orchards near the Lebanese border sustained significant damage during the recent conflict, but farmers worked to rehabilitate them and continued harvesting even during hostilities to ensure a steady supply of fresh, high-quality fruit.