Germany, the Netherlands and the UK are to be the main marketing targets for the fresh produce grown by Palestinian farmers.

Using the greenhouses that belonged to the Israeli settlers in the Gaza region the farmers are growing fresh herbs, vegetables and strawberried. From the 450 hectares of greenhouses that were operative before the pullout, there are now 300ha of greenhouses in use.

During the current season, a newly established export company Adafresh, managed by Avi Kadan, who founded Arava Growers, will handle the export of the Palestinian fresh produce, which is valued at €12 million.

Adafresh reached an agreement recently to expand its trade relations with Marks & Spencer to supply the chain with 200 tonnes of special tomatoes that are irrigated with saline water.

As a result of its international marketing strategy, the company will next season export fresh produce from Israel and from the Palestinian Authority to other European countries, notably to Russia and France, starting with nearly 2,000t of vegetables to these two countries.

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