15 May, 2008 - In 2007/08, citrus production in Israel is forecast at 580,000 tons, an 8 percent decrease compared to the previous year. The lower harvest was a result of the cold spell that hit Israel mid-January 2008, which destroyed about 50,000 tons of citrus.
Citrus exports are expected to decrease about 5 percent compared to the previous year, and delivery to processing plants
is expected to decrease 15-20 percent.
Out of the total production, approximately 165,000 tons is expected to be exported (5 percent decrease compared to the previous year), 296,500 tons to be processed (15-20 percent decrease compared to the previous year), and the remainder consumed fresh.
In 2007/8, exports of the sweetie variety to Japan are off about 14 percent compared to theprevious year. In addition, no exports of Shamouti to Japan have been recorded in the current MY, while in the previous MY exports of Shamouti to Japan totaled 5,000 tons.
Due to the fact that crop year 2007/08 marked the beginning of another “sabbatical” year in Israel, when Jews are not supposed to consume the crops produced in that year and new plantings are not allowed, new plantings will resume only in spring 2009.