Israel-based Agrexco has announced that its first shipment of pomegranates this season is to leave the country today (16 July), with the load consisting of Ako and Shani varieties.
The fruit has been produced in Mitzpe Shalem, near the Dead Sea, which the group said is one of the earliest cultivation areas in the northern hemisphere to have started harvesting. The region is expected to yield 10 tonnes of pomegranates this season.
Those quantities are the beginning of a bigger early-season production plan, according to Agrexco, which will be ready 'in the next few years'.
Overall, 10m pomegranates are forecast to be exported by the company this season, the equivalent of approximately 6,500 tonnes of fruit.
'After a short break, pomegranates from other cultivation areas will join and assure a continuous supply until February 2010,' said Agrexco's product manager Bezalel Madmon, who confirmed that the second shipment of the season would depart Israel next week.
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