Israeli Pear Growers Face Crisis Due to Unseasonal Weather and Cosmetic Standards
תומצת מתוך Zman Yisrael על ידי baba
Israeli pear growers are struggling to sell their harvest due to cosmetic blemishes caused by unseasonal cold weather, leading major supermarkets to reject the fruit in favor of imports. Lior Babish, a large grower, stated the pears are unaffected in taste but retailers deem them aesthetically unacceptable. The industry faces economic challenges and a lack of government support, prompting growers to seek new marketing strategies to save the sector.
הידיעה ב-5 שורות · תקציר של baba
- Unseasonal cold weather caused cosmetic blemishes on Israeli pears, making them unsellable to major retailers.
- Major Israeli supermarkets are refusing to stock blemished local pears, preferring imported fruit.
- Grower Lior Babish stated the affected pears are sweet and tasty, but their rough exterior is the sole issue.
- The Israeli pear industry is facing economic hardship and a lack of support from the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Growers are launching a campaign with the slogan "Israeli Pear - Rough on the Outside, Sweet on the Inside" to boost sales.
Israeli pear growers are facing a significant crisis this year due to unseasonal weather conditions and strict cosmetic standards imposed by major supermarket chains. A prolonged cold and wet winter into late March, during the pear's blooming period, caused micro-cracks on the fruit's skin. These cracks, which the pears naturally sealed, resulted in a rough texture and visible blemishes, leading retailers to reject them.
Lior Babish, one of Israel's largest pear growers from Moshav Neot Golan, described the issue as purely aesthetic, emphasizing that the taste and sweetness of the affected pears are unaffected. "The problem is purely aesthetic, the pears are tasty and sweet, there is no difference of a permille in taste compared to a regular pear," he stated. Despite his family's 30 years of growing pears, this is the first time they have encountered such a widespread problem, leaving them with 2,000 tons of unsellable fruit.
Major supermarket chains like Rami Levy, Shufersal, Victory, and Yohananof have refused to stock the blemished Israeli pears, opting instead for imports. Babish noted that only Carrefour, Half Ha'chiam, and Noy Ha'sadeh have agreed to sell them, with Israeli pears reportedly selling better in stores that offer both local and imported options.
This cosmetic issue exacerbates the already challenging economic situation for the pear industry, which has seen a decline in cultivation areas as growers switch to more profitable fruits like peaches and nectarines. Babish is campaigning with the slogan "Israeli Pear - Rough on the Outside, Sweet on the Inside" to rebrand the fruit and appeal to consumers. However, with 90% of his 2,000-ton harvest still in cold storage and a limited shelf life of about six months, the situation remains dire.
Babish also highlighted the lack of support from the Ministry of Agriculture, noting that unlike other fruits, pears do not have a dedicated council or budget. He expressed frustration over the absence of a body to coordinate pear growers, stating, "The pear has no father or mother in the State of Israel." Despite the immense difficulties, Babish remains committed to saving the industry, believing in the long-term viability of pear trees.
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