“A lot of customers in Europe buy Brazilian because of the shelf life,” said Berto Levy of Gaia Herbs. “But the powder that's used for that is banned in Israel because of the chemicals in it.” That offers an advantage to Brazilian exporters, but that advantage may diminish if European buyers decide to steer clear of products containing that powder.
“In Germany, some supermarkets will not accept figs with this powder,” said Levy. “So now figs have to be free of that, and that gives new options to Israeli fig exporters.”
Though the majority of Gaia Herbs' business comes from fresh herbs, they can ship up to three tons of figs per week. As a country, Israel can ship up to 20 tons of figs per week. Shippers send their fruit all throughout Europe and to parts of the Far East. Gaia offers their figs in punnets for sale in supermarkets as well as in one-kilogram containers. Currently, Levy estimates prices are around 7.50 to 8.00 Euro per kilogram in Europe.
“Figs are a product that have been grown in Israel for many years, and this year quality and quantities have been the same as in past years,” said Levy. “There are almost no new growers each year, so the market is stable.”
For more information:
Berto Levy
Gaia
Mob: +972 54 6777295
Fax: +972 3 5214598
berto@gaiaherbs.co.il
www.gaiaherbs.co.il