Sweet peppers have been, and still are, Israel’s largest export product in volume terms in the fresh fruit and vegetable category, and despite significant price fluctuations export volumes have continued to increase steadily year-on-year, climbing above 135,000 tonnes in 2012/13.
The popularity of the product is clear when you consider that, during the previous campaign, there were some 52 separate, officially registered pepper export companies across the country.
It is estimated that this large number of companies, a figure bloated by the demise of Agrexco and the subsequent formation of newly registered organisations – often no more than a cooperation between two growers – will be significantly reduced during 2013/14. However, the overall figures for the season point to a total production of around 210,000 tonnes from 3ha, with somewhere between 145,000 tonnes and 160,000 tonnes of that going for export.
Around two-thirds of the country’s pepper production is carried out in the Arava region, with the majority of exports coming from the same area. Of these exports, about 60 per cent reaches western European market, with 30 per cent heading to eastern Europe.
Israel’s largest exporters by volume are Arava Growers and Gilad Desert Produce, with significant quantities also coming from Edom, stm, AdaFresh, Green Arava and BeFresh. For many of these, the UK and the Netherlands are the target markets, BeFresh in particular focusing its efforts on Russia. Other exporters of note include Shoval, Orka Quality Group, Faran Peppers, Mor International and Galilee Exports.
Gilli Sinai, owner of AgroFresh, told Eurofruit that his company expected to export over 2,500 tonnes of the vegetable this season, with Europe and North America in the group’s sights.
Meanwhile, AgroFresh and RAN Fresh Produce cover a combined 60 per cent of the organic export market for peppers, with volumes this year expected to hit 10,000 tonnes.
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