Historic Citrus Packing House Restored at Minkov Orchard Site in Rehovot
The renovated packing house at the Minkov orchard site in Rehovot was recently inaugurated, marking the revival of a key structure from the original citrus grove established by Zalman Minkov in 1904. This orchard was the first in the colony and became a leading center for citrus cultivation in the Land of Israel. Minkov, a proponent of Jewish labor, employed prominent figures of the early Jewish community such as A.D. Gordon, Yosef Haim Brenner, poet Rachel, and writer S. Yizhar, who wrote his story "Bathing in the Pool" at the orchard's reservoir.
After Minkov's death in 1911, the orchard changed ownership several times until operations ceased about 60 years ago. The land was sold to a real estate developer, and the site fell into neglect and near ruin. In the late 1970s, Israel Kompton, then director of the Society for the Protection of Nature branch in Rehovot, initiated restoration efforts. With support from the Society for Preservation of Heritage Sites and a donation from Francis Minkov, a relative living in Switzerland, funding was secured to begin conservation work.
In the 1990s, the Society opened the Minkov Citrus Heritage site to tell the story of citrus farming in Israel from the early 20th century to the present, highlighting its role in Jewish settlement. The renewed packing house focuses on national aspects of citrus growing, including early cooperative organizations like "HaOrez" and "Pardes," which aimed to support Jewish workers and improve their livelihoods. The restoration project was funded by donations from Prof. Yaffa Berlowitz, whose father was a founder of HaOrez, and the Rokach Foundation, commemorating Yitzhak Rokach through Gideon Makov, the last CEO of Pardes.
Curator Amalia Zehavi-Kovo, along with Sharon Ambar, emphasized that the new exhibition highlights two previously unexplored themes: Israeli culture and identity. Citrus fruits, especially oranges, helped create a new cultural connection to the land, health, and sunlight, inspiring many artists and writers such as Nahum Gutman and Tziona Tagger. They also reflect on the disappearance of orchards due to urban development and what this means for Israeli identity. The packing house now features interactive displays, videos, and information about the history and challenges of the citrus industry in Israel.
