The fresh produce industry in Israel continue with their harvesting, planting and exports despite escalating war conditions. Growers, exports and importers all shared the same sentiment, "We've been operating under these conditions for nearly a year. What has changed now is the rockets reaching the centre of the country. We continue with our activities."
Rockets often land in Israel's fruit fields along the border, destroying crops while causing wildfires.
The barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles from Iran on Israel earlier this week sent millions across the country into bomb shelters. Commenting from there an Israeli importer of table grapes and blueberries notes: "It is not easy, the foreign air companies are cancelling flights so the import by air is very unstable, since October 7. It's not pleasant, the sirens go off and we go to our shelters."
Growers and workers of vegetables in central Israel noted: "For the first time we in central Israel work with rocket sirens going off. However, the mainly foreign workers understand and we continue with our tasks to meet the growing local demand for a range of vegetables."
In the north of Israel growers note, "Apples and plums are being harvested under rockets daily in the north, including today."
However, the immediate impact of the escalation in hostilities comes during this week of Rosh Hashanah (the two-day Jewish new year). It starts the period in October where many public holidays are taken while harvesting and other farming activities across Israel become much slower the industry notes.
Currently being harvested in Israel are a range of vegetables such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, mainly for the local market. The harvesting of the export fruit of avocados and dates continue too.
A date grower and exporter notes, "It is very complicated. But, we manage to harvest and export to meet all our client needs, despite this situation."