Vegetable and Fruit Prices Plunge as Supply Surges and Demand Slows

Yifrach said 2024 and 2025 were excellent years for farmers, and added, “גם שנת 2026, למרות העודפים, החקלאים מקבלים מחיר סביר” (“Even in 2026, despite the surpluses, farmers are getting a fair price”). A retail executive said another factor is softer sales at the chains, a slowdown not yet fully visible in first-quarter reports because of Passover, emergency buying ahead of the Iranian attack and the fact that many Israelis stayed home instead of traveling abroad during the security situation. He said the slowdown is expected to show more clearly in the second quarter, as more Israelis take summer trips overseas while consumer purchasing power keeps eroding and national mood remains weak. Victory CEO Eyal Ravid told ynet and Mamon, “כשיש עודפים המחיר יורד. אצלי גם מחיר תפוחי העץ המיובאים ירד כי שער הדולר והאירו ירד” (“When there are surpluses, the price falls. My imported apples also fell because the dollar and euro rates fell”). Ilan Sheva of Beikhurei Sade said there is plentiful supply because there is no labor shortage in agriculture and the weather has been good.