
Chaim Oren
The modern fresh produce landscape requires constant improvement – improvements in yields, in disease resistance, in flavor and in the ease with which a product can be grown and harvested. For one Israeli fig grower, that process of continuous improvement takes places in a testing ground for new varieties located in the Jordan Valley.

Different fig varieties are tested

“In the Jordan Valley, the amount of sunlight is less than that in Tel Aviv, so you need a lot of sun to get the right color,” explained Chaim Oren. Along with regional considerations, the fig must fit into a specific size, usually size 24 or 20 for the export market, to make it a worthwhile investment. The way the fruit breaks off from the tree must also be taken into consideration, in order to make it as easy as possible to harvest in order to reduce labor costs. Finally, and, arguably, most importantly, the fruit must taste good.

This is a commercial orchard
“The first thing we do is taste the figs when we choose new varieties, because we're sick of the plastic taste in fruit,” said Chaim Oren. “We do many things, conduct many tests, to create knowledge on how to grow these in different areas.”

Chaim Oren in his coldstore with harvested figs
For more information: www.mop-bika.org.il