Fruits and Vegetables
Israely Economy

According to data for 2002, the vegetable growing sector in Israel accounts for about:
- 21% of total agricultural production in the country and about
- 35% of total horticultural production.
The value of the vegetable sector is estimated to be about $672 million.
Production stood at 1.7 million tons, which are intended for consumption in the domestic market, export of fresh produce to Europe and the USA, and industrial processing and canning. The increase in production and the uninterrupted supply of vegetable crops were made possible due to the exploitation of a number of factors in the production process, including:

• Production in different regions
• Production in protected conditions
• Exploitation of regional climatic conditions and production in different seasons
• Introduction of new crops and new varieties

Production in protected conditions has expanded in recent years and now covers about 4,000 hectares, in which a wide variety of vegetables are grown. The main vegetables are table tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, green herbs, spring- and winter-sown watermelons and melons, leafy vegetables intended for the Orthodox religious market, and eggplants and strawberries. The latter two are grown in smaller quantities than the other vegetables mentioned.
Production in greenhouses, walk-in tunnels, and nethouses enables the following:

• Protection of the plants from natural disasters
• Ability to produce in different climatic and regional conditions
• Significant increase in yields and improvement in quality
• Reduction of plant pests which transfer viral diseases and cause direct damage to the plants
• Significant reduction in the use of pesticides

About 45,000 hectares of vegetables are grown in open fields. These vegetables have been adapted to the climatic conditions in Israel and may be grown in various regions, according to the growing seasons and the climatic conditions present there. This group includes potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, summer-sown melons and watermelons, and vegetables destined for industrial processing, such as tomatoes, corn, peas, and cucumbers for pickling.
Production for export is a main source of income for Israel's vegetable growers, especially in the Arava in the southern part of the country, which is known for its unique climatic conditions in the winter months. These conditions enable production of high-quality vegetables for export, such as peppers, melons, vine ripe tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes.

Other regions noted for vegetable production are the Beit Shean Valley and the Jordan Rift - where fresh herbs for export are grown - and the Sharon and western Negev, which excel in the export of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and strawberries.

Among the professional achievements which have had a crucial influence on the formulation of the vegetable branch in the last decade, the following are of particular mention:
- Introduction of new high-yielding and high-quality varieties which are pathogen-resistant
- Improvement and control of climate conditions in protected growing systems
- Introduction of modern irrigation methods based on procedures for control of irrigation and fertilization in the various vegetable crops
- Application of a growing method on substrate in regions where the soil is unsuitable for growing crops
- Introduction of labor-saving technologies and means, especially in open fields
- Application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods in a range of vegetable crops
- Application of post-harvest methods, means and treatment in order to lengthen shelf life and prevent rotting

Fruit orchards cover an area of about 36,000 hectares, not including citrus groves. Produce reached 688,000 tons of fruit in 2002 and amounted to a production value of $513 million. Fruit accounts for 16% of total agricultural production and 14% of total fresh agricultural exports. Israel exported 74,000 tons of fruit in 2002, of which 49,000 tons were avocado, 6,000 tons were table grapes, 4,000 were mango and 6,000 tons were persimmon.
The varied climate lends itself to a wide variety of fruit crops. In hilly and mountainous areas, for example, deciduous fruit trees, which have chilling requirements, are grown, while in the coastal plain or valleys, tropical and subtropical fruit trees can be grown. In the arid Arava zone, dates are grown successfully. Due to the varied climate and the advanced technologies for growing fruit trees under protected conditions (greenhouses and nethouses) during the cold season, fruit can also be picked out of season, thereby prolonging the marketing period and improving fruit quality.
A number of leading growers have succeeded in reaching peak yields in Israel, for example: apples, 60 tons/ha; bananas, 70 tons/ha; plums, 30 tons/ha; apricots, 35 tons/ha; grapes, 45 tons/ha; peaches, 40 tons/ha; mango, 40 tons/ha; and pears, 30 tons/ha.

The use of advanced technologies enables the marketing of high quality fruit which can reach the overseas consumer a few days after picking.
Fruit can also be stored under refrigeration for long periods. Advanced storage technologies are employed in the cooling houses and sorting and packing facilities, as well as in the domestic and export distribution network.

Several mechanical means have been developed in order to increase the efficiency of handling fruit. For example, a hydraulic lift with a booth allows the worker to reach the highest branches. The lift can be steered, guided from tree to tree and raised or lowered to the desired height. In addition to the standard model, a particularly high model has been developed for picking dates. Research and Development

The growing of fruit in substrate culture has resulted in improved quality, characterized by larger fruit and increased vegetative growth, particularly in heavy and alkaline soils. Mango is the most outstanding example. Better fruit quality has also been achieved by using multi-colored shade nets, which improve the microclimate in the orchard. In recent years, the fruit branch has taken the lead in developing phytomonitoring systems, which enable better quality management, control and supervision, mainly with regard to the irrigation process and efficient water management.

One of the main goals of the fruit branch is constant examination of new species and varieties in order to expand the selection of products and extend the marketing season, with an eye on the European consumer. These include pitaya, papaya, passiflora, guava, raspberry, and other "small fruits".

Citrus accounts for 5% of Israel's total agricultural produce. In 2002, about 530,000 tons of fruit were produced on a productive area of 17,000 hectares. Citrus accounted for 12.5% of all fresh export in 2001.
In recent years, the citrus sector in Israel has been undergoing changes as it introduces new agrotechnologies to facilitate improved operations, including the planting of new citrus groves in arid and semi-arid regions.

Israel markets a wide variety of oranges, grapefruits, easy peelers, and lemons, as well as a range of more exotic citrus fruit.
The traditional Shamouti orange is still Israel's major citrus product by volume. Other varieties of oranges exported include the Valencia Late and Navel. In the past, the white grapefruit, originally grown in inland valleys, was partly replaced by the Sunrise variety, whose peel and flesh have a red tint. New easy-peeling varieties for export and for the local market, such as Or and Mor, have been planted on a large scale in recent years.
Israel produces exotic citrus varieties, such as lime, kumquat (Chinese orange), limquat (a cross between lime and kumquat), and red or white pomelo.
Citrus Varieties and Yields (2002)

Variety	Yield per Hectare (in tons)
Oranges	42.5
Grapefruit	65.0
Easy peelers	35.0
Lemons	50.0
Exotics	20.0

Source: Citrus Marketing Board and Central Bureau of Statistics Environmentally Friendly Fruit

There is a growing awareness of the importance of ecologically-oriented agriculture. This has led to the development of "green" fruit, which is grown with minimal use of chemicals, to avoid interfering with the ecosystem or harming the environment. Production is according to the quality management requirements of the European market, in compliance with EurepGap 2000 principles, ISO standards and crop management protocols.

As part of the policy to reduce the use of chemicals, 65% of Israel's citrus groves have instituted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, which use natural control agents such as parasitic wasps and predator insects and minimize the need for chemicals.

Efforts are presently being directed to the development of new citrus varieties that have a lower seed content, longer shelf-life, attractive appearance and long marketing season. Model groves, which have been planted in various areas of the country, show promise for commercial success. The outstanding new varieties are Mor, Or, and Rishon. The main varieties introduced from overseas include the Pomelit, Newhall-Navel, Ray-Ruby Rio-Red Pink Grapefruit, Nova, and Mineola. Rootstocks traditionally used in the past have been replaced by new ones, such asVolka Mariana,Troyer, C-35, and Rangpur, according to the variety, and type of soil and water. In the early 1990s, additional seedlings for grafting were planted, which can withstand conditions of saline or calcareous soils, to which Troyer stocks are sensitive.

The citrus sector, which has fluctuated over the years, has concentrated on increasing the efficiency of its operations, introducing new methods and, in addition to the new varieties developed, increasing efforts to meet changing market demands, while bringing citrus farmers greater returns. The citrus industry in Israel is focusing on the local market, with a few export-oriented varieties being grown for a niche market. Citrus marketing has changed considerably in the last decade, from marketing by a monopoly - the Citrus Marketing Board of Israel (CMBI) - to private marketing entities authorized by the CMBI to compete on the open market. Citrus yields in Israel rose from 20 tons to 50 tons per hectare, with peak yields of 60 - 80 tons per hectare in the Negev desert region.