Israelis Boost Holiday Purchases of Apples, Meat, and Fish

As the Jewish High Holidays approach, Israel's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has released data on food consumption patterns, revealing significant increases in purchases of traditional holiday foods. In the week leading up to Rosh Hashanah, sales of fish surged by approximately 52% compared to a typical week, with tilapia and salmon being the most popular choices. While Israelis consume about 9 kilograms of fish per person annually (filleted weight), this figure rises to around 20 kilograms (whole fish weight) when compared globally, similar to the European Union average but lower than countries like Malaysia and Norway.

Beef consumption also saw a substantial jump, with sales increasing by about 77% in the pre-holiday week. Israelis consume an average of 20.2 kilograms of beef per person annually, a figure higher than the OECD average. Chicken consumption is exceptionally high, with Israelis consuming approximately 51 kilograms per person per year, far exceeding the global average of 21.9 kilograms. Holiday preparations saw an additional 35% increase in chicken sales.

Fruit consumption also peaked, particularly apples, with a 71% rise in sales during the holiday week. Israelis consume about 12.5 kilograms of apples annually, with most local production concentrated in the Galilee and Golan Heights. Pomegranate consumption also spikes dramatically before the holiday, with about 16% of the annual total sold in the week before Rosh Hashanah.

In contrast, wine consumption remains relatively low, with the average Israeli consuming only about 6 liters per year, significantly less than European countries like France (40 liters) and Portugal (62 liters). Despite this, Israel's wine industry produces around 50 million bottles annually, with exports valued at approximately $59 million, primarily to the United States.