A record harvest for Israel's avocado
Audio 01:44
A cluster of avocados (illustrative image).
Getty Images / Imágenes del Perú
By: Sami Boukhelifa Follow
2 min
This originally tropical fruit is also cultivated around the Mediterranean basin, where it has adapted very well to the climate.
So much so that this year's harvest in Israel promises to be exceptional.
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Israel is one of the forerunners of avocado cultivation, and especially of its marketing on the European market.
Each year, 45%, or almost half of Israeli production, is exported, and ends up mainly on the plates of consumers in Europe.
Fruit with a creamy texture, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, it has established itself in recent years as a "super food", especially among followers of a healthy diet and well-being.
Often too hard, then too ripe, professionals in the sector invest in ripening techniques to make the product more qualitative.
A "superfood" that is thirsty
Sometimes criticized, because its culture is very greedy in water, its producers in Israel nevertheless consider it as "the king of fruits".
Its thick skin is a real protective shell.
Thanks to it, growing avocados in principle requires very few phytosanitary products, and in particular pesticides.
In Israel, avocado is considered one of the most profitable fruits.
Some citrus fruits, which are just as water hungry, have lower yields.
In addition, Israel, a country with a dry climate, is a world leader in water management.
According to the Israeli authorities, nearly 90% of the water used for irrigation is recycled water.
Israel could double its annual production
On a planetary scale, as in Israel, the exploitation of the avocado remains on a human scale.
Most of the production comes from medium to small plantations.
Avocado trees most often grow on plots of less than five hectares, the equivalent of seven football fields.
In Israel, avocado is harvested from the end of September until May.
Israeli orchards are forecast to produce between 180,000 and 250,000 tonnes of avocados this year, up from 130,000 tonnes last year.
But beware, avocado is a so-called alternating species.
Each year of high production is usually followed by a drop in yields.
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