Unfavorable weather during this year'sharvest will likely put a dent in Israeli sharon fruit production.Increased competition from Spanish fruit has also made it a tough year for growers, though they hopeincreased prices during the next few weeks can help them end this export seasonon a good note.
“I'd say there will be about 15 to 20percent less fruit this season compared to last year,” said Eldad Engelberg ofGalilee Export in Israel. “In general, the fruit and the color isokay.” According to Engelberg, untimely rains during harvest, which began in November, were mostly to blame forthis year's smaller crop.
The season has also been tough for Israeliexporters because of low prices throughout Europe and other areas. The Russian ban on European fruit has led to a flood ofSpanish kaki persimmons in the continent. That's kept prices down, and thoughIsraeli sharon fruit is sweeter and has a longer shelf life than the competingkaki, consumers are drawn to the kaki's larger size.
“Spanish kaki is strongly situated inEurope and other locations, like the Far East and North America,” explainedEngelberg. “So now the competition from Spanish fruit is more difficult.”Ideally, more Spanish fruit in Europe would be offset by the absence ofEuropean fruit in Russia, which could open the entire market up to Israeliexporters. But the falling value of the rouble has made exports to Russia arisky proposition.
“Fruit sales toRussia have decreased because the insurance companies have reduced their coverage, Russian importers are also afraid to order because they don't know what to expect when it is time to pay,” said Engelberg. “So we've reduced the quantities we had intended to send toRussia. ”The hope is that the longershelf life of the sharon fruit will give Israeli exporters a window during which tosell their fruit in Europe after Spanish supplies run their course.
“Israeli and Spanish growers harvest duringthe same time,” explained Engelberg. “But while Spanish kaki keeps until aboutnow, we can store our fruit through March.”
"Galilee is a grower owned company which ensures our commitment to giving growers the best returns, we have even started to market our own fruit domestically through our sister company, 'Galil Local market'.
For more information:
Eldad Engelberg
Galilee Export L.T.D
Tel : +972-3-6539035
Eldad@galil-export.com
www.galilee-export.com