Israel’s table grape industry will see modest growth over the next few years as new cultivars come into full production following the recent expansion in planted orchards. According to Eyal Raban, who is now an independent table grape consultant in Israel, a few of the IFG table grape varieties will be harvested in Israel for the first time this season.
Raban was until recently working for Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture in extension services as a viticulture extension officer. “Israel’s table grape harvest that is around 65,000 tons, is going to increase over the next few years as new plantings bear fruit. One big company planted 300 hectares. They will start to harvest commercially next year. This will bring a change in the volumes available to the local market. The idea is that these new hectares also supply the local market, it is not for exporting. We are also seeing the first harvest of IFG varieties this year, by a private grower. These varieties are Sweet Globe, Sugar Crisp as the white varieties. The two red varieties are Jack Salute and Sweet Celebration. They are all grown conventionally. This year’s harvest will be from a few hectares only, while next year the harvest will increase to about 100 hectares of these varieties,” explains Raban.
Due to Israel’s hot and dry climate, with available water always a challenge, the table grape industry has seen a slow rate of expansion. This is now gradually changing with the few hundred hectares that are added each year. The new hectares will lead to over 70,000 tons being harvested.
Raban says Egypt also does not export much grapes to Israel. “Most of the table grape imports to Israel comes from South Africa, in future maybe from Egypt. Our market is not economical for them. When we start with our open field harvest the price goes down a little bit. This makes it less attractive for them."
For more information:
Eyal Raban
Tel: +972 50 624 1529
Email: eyraban@gmail.com