Currency
“There is nothing that affects markets more than the weather. The second thing is the currency. With the slide in the dollar against the euro, herbs are much more expensive, by about 30 percent. The currency slide for Africa also makes herbs more expensive, compared to Israeli currency slides,” Levy commented.
“I believe Israel will be a bigger player in the supply of herbs in the total market of Europe. The buyers will not want a winter like the last one. Because of that, we saw a huge demand for Basil and in the other herbs,” Levy shared.
Flat rates
European customers go for herbs grown in Europe for price. “We supply to our customers at the same price. Our logistics have a fixed price. We can’t change the flat rates. Due to the big shortage, Italian and Spanish suppliers forced the price up. Customers that use Italian and Spanish suppliers are paying a lot of money to the Italians and the Spanish,” Levy stated. “In contrast, our customers know the price for all the winter. And we can supply 100 percent of the orders, including the shortage our customers have from Italy and Spain. When they buy our herbs from Israel, they see the difference.”
Hand picked
Italy has machines for harvesting. “We don’t. We make everything handmade. We pick the herbs by hand,” said Levy. “Here, we do all the harvesting by hand, because our farms are smaller than in Italy. The harvest is longer, more difficult, but the quality is also there,” shared Levy.
For more information:
Berto Levy
Gaia agricultural produce
Mob: +972 54 6777295
Fax: +972 3 5214598
berto@gaiaherbs.co.il
www.gaiaherbs.co.il