The export of fresh produce from Israel for the 2000/2001 season is at a turning point. Israeli growers are apprehensive about experiencing further losses for marketing fresh produce, citrus included, to Western Europe, in view of the sharp decline of the euro, the trading currency for Israeli produce. During the 1999/2000 export season, it is estimated that Israeli exporters suffered losses estimated at US$100m.
Agrexco, Israel’s leading exporter of fresh produce, plans to export during the 2000/2001 season 260,000 tonnes of vegetables, fruits and citrus, with an estimated sales returns of nearly €400m. This figure does not include returns from its sales of flowers, estimated at approximately €200m. Agrexco plans to export 150,000 tonnes of vegetables, 60,000 tonnes of fruits and 50,000 tonnes of citrus. The main vegetable items are potatoes (55,000 tonnes); capsicum (20,000 tonnes); Galia melons (14,000 tonnes); cherry tomatoes (8500 tonnes); fresh herbs (4000 tonnes), and in smaller quantities – celery, sweet potatoes, strawberries, sweet corn and parsnip. The export of fruit by Agrexco will amount to 60,000 tonnes, the main items being: avocado (37,000 tonnes); mango (7500 tonnes); plums (3500 tonnes), and litchi (600 tonnes). The company plans to export 50,000 tonnes of several citrus varieties.
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According to data from Mehadrin Export, the company will handle this season 170,000 tonnes of citrus, compared with 190,000 tonnes last season. Its citrus export for the forthcoming season is forecast at 70,000 tonnes, as in the preceding season. In addition to citrus, Mehadrin plans to export 10,000 tonnes of avocado, 1200 tonnes of mango, and 500 tonnes of Sharon Fruit.
Tnuport, which last season captured first place in the export of citrus from Israel, holding 32.5% of the country’s total export volume, vs. Mehadrin’s 31% and Agrexco’s 25 %, plans to export about 82,000 tonnes of all citrus varieties, Citrus growers are apprehensive about the possibility of another year of losses. They called the government to provide them with “extraordinary financial assistance” in the amount of US$25m, to enable them to go through the season with as small losses as possible.
