North Israel Businesses and Golan Beef Cooperative Head to Jaffa Port Fair

About 100 businesses from Israel’s northern front line and the Golan Heights will take part in the three-day “Heart with the North” fair starting Wednesday, June 17, at Warehouse 2 in Jaffa Port. The event, organized with News 12 and Jaffa Port, is meant to help evacuated northern residents and businesses hit by the war. Visitors will find food stalls, art, jewelry, cosmetics, and other products from the north, sold directly without middlemen.

Among the participants is “Merage Golan,” a farming cooperative founded in 2016 that runs eight local cattle and sheep farms. The cooperative says its cattle are raised in the open spaces of the Golan Heights, unlike about 40% of beef products sold in Israel that arrive on cargo ships as live imports. It says its method is rare in Israel and applies to only about 4% of cattle herds raised for the domestic market.

Merage Golan says the animals live in their natural environment throughout the entire growing process and are fed properly without hormones, growth promoters, or preventive antibiotics. The cooperative said, “We believe the way cattle are raised affects the quality of the meat,” adding, “We are sure that our way is the right practice for raising beef cattle.” It also says it is committed to full transparency and to responsible, ethical consumption of animal products.

The fair comes as many families in Kiryat Shmona and in Galilee and Golan kibbutzim are still dealing with economic damage and uncertainty. News 12’s special broadcast desk in Jaffa Port, featuring Guy Varon and Almog Boker, will accompany the event. Boker’s “Helping North Businesses” segment has already assisted more than 1,000 businesses during the fighting. Food, produce, honey, jams, olive oil, chocolates, cheeses, fresh meat, skincare products, jewelry, ceramics, stained glass, fashion, accessories, vintage items, and street performances are all planned.