Israel is facing a severe tomato shortage, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture to approve a quota for duty-free imports of 5,000 tons over the next two months, announced on August 13.
Tomato prices in supermarkets have risen to 2.21–2.45 euros per kilogram, while first-grade tomatoes on the wholesale market are now 3.7 euros per kilogram. Consumers are also reporting poor quality in some stores, with tomatoes typically reserved for industrial processing now being sold due to the shortage. Estimates suggest that the local market supply is down 40% compared to last year.
Despite the new import quotas, importers warn that prices might not significantly decrease. Importing vegetables from Europe is far more expensive than from traditional suppliers like Turkey and Jordan. Transportation costs from countries like Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands are higher, and importing from Cyprus and Poland is under consideration.
Ilan Shefa, co-owner of "Bikurei-Sade," stated that tomatoes from the Netherlands must be airlifted due to their short shelf life, further driving up consumer costs. "Shipping by sea takes about two weeks, too long for fresh tomatoes," Shefa explained, expressing doubts about air transport as a solution, especially since many airlines have cancelled flights to Israel.
Importers are also lobbying the Ministry of Agriculture to permit tomato imports from Morocco and Egypt, where prices are lower. However, these countries are currently banned due to pest control concerns. "Bikurei-Sade," a primary supplier of fruits and vegetables to the IDF, has requested permission to import tomatoes from the Netherlands. However, the Ministry of Defense has traditionally required that the IDF use only locally produced vegetables.
Source: vesty.co.il