Confidence in Palestine Economic Future Expressed by Pardess Head

Confidence in Palestine’s economic future was expressed by Isaac Rokach, Managing Director of “Pardess”, the largest orange growers co-operative in Eretz Israel, in an interview with a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency just prior to his departure for Europe.

Mr. Rokach hailed the growing movement among American Jews to settle in Palestine and to invest their funds in that country. “Palestine needs American Jewish business men as well as their money”, he said. “Those who go there with their families and means prepared to work in field or factory will live happily and will at the same time be a benediction to the country”.

Mr. Rokach spent five days in New York after attending the British Imperial Trade Conference in Ottawa before sailing for London. He expects to spend the next two months visiting the principal commercial centers in Europe before returning to Palestine. Mr. Rokach anticipates that Palestine will export 4,000,000 boxes of oranges next season. Approximately one-fourth of this quantity is to be produced by the members of “Pardess”.

When questioned as to the future prospects of the Palestine orange trade, Mr. Rokach expressed enthusiasm. “There is absolutely no basis for fear of overproduction or loss of present markets”, he said. “We now supply 18 percent of England’s total requirements. I am certain we can sell England a much larger share of its needs in view of the fact that the Jaffa orange is considered by many the best in the world as well as in view of the excellent shipping facilities available between England and Palestine. Our oranges are shipped to markets when the product of practically all other sources of supply is already out of season. Only one type of California orange, the Valencia, is shipped into England and Englishmen prefer the Jaffa orange.

Mr. Rokach pointed out, however, that “in view of the rapidly increasing crop in Palestine, — it is expected that over 7,000,000 boxes will be available for export in 1936 — it is essential that we improve our methods of cultivation and the quality of the orange. Much has been done in the past ten years but much more can still be done. We need better methods for grading and packing the fruit. We need improved transportation facilities. Our advertising should be more extensive.

“In the course of time we shall see many new industries developing in Palestine around the orange industry. At present, for example, there is a considerable increase in the manufacture of boxes for oranges, the bulk of which are now imported from Roumania and other countries. This will result in some saving to the growers in Palestine and will supply labor to many people, thus making possible increased immigration to the country.

“Considerable attention is now being devoted to the development of the byproducts of the orange industry. Experiments have already been made on a commercial scale with satisfactory results. Orange oil is pressed out of the orange peel. A paste has been prepared out of the peel which is in demand among bakers and confectioners”, he said. “Pectin, used in jelly and jam manufacturing, is being produced. Orange juice and concentrated orange juice made from the Jaffa orange have already been sold successfully in England, India and other countries. A cooperative was recently organized for propagating the by-products industry among the Jewish growers”.

Asked of the possibilities of the growth of other industries, unrelated to the citrus crops, Mr. Rokach said: “In agriculture we have to compete with Arab methods and Arab labor costs but in other industries the field is clear for Jewish enterprise. For example, the Nesher Cement Plant is working day and night and has absolutely eliminated all importation of cement into Palestine. The Salt Works at Athlit, which extract common table salt from the Mediterranean, produced 7,000 tons last year. The Shemen Oil Works are very successful in the production of olive oil, castile soap and related products. Considerable progress is being made in the weaving and knitting of textiles. The Lodzia Works employ two full shifts in order to meet the demand for hosiery, underwear, etc.

“Palestine has been particularly successful in producing modern furniture which is being sold not only in the local and nearby markets but in European countries as well”, he stated. “It is especially interesting that the Palestine artisans are using the wood of the eucalyptus trees in the making of this furniture. These trees were originally planted some fifty years ago to check the spread of malaria among the early settlers.

“The Dead Sea is about to be developed as a winter resort and this development will constitute an additional source of revenue for the country over and above the tremendous chemical resources of that body of water which has been declared to be almost worth its weight in gold,” he revealer. “With the development of the concession for the hot springs at Tiberias, renowned for their healing qualities, a plan will be established for the extract of its salts to be sold in America and elsewhere. Other industries are developing as well”, Mr. Rokach said.

In response to the query “How can American Jews help Palestine’s growth most effectively?” Mr. Rokach said: “It is, of course, absolutely essential that American Jews continue to support the Zionist Organization and to contribute as generously as possible to the public funds, the Keren Hayesod and the Jewish National Fund. In addition, however, there is great need for the innate enterprise of American Jews. We need American Jewish business men, as well as their money. They could greatly help the growth of the country. In my opinion, American Jews with sons and daughters willing to work in the fields or houses or factories and possessing a capital of $5,000 or more can live very happily in Palestine and at the same time be a benediction to the country.

“It is of utmost importance, however, that prospective settlers receive honest, accurate, disinterested and unbiased information and advice both at the point of departure, as well as upon arrival in Palestine. It is with the greatest of pleasure that I learned of the formation for this purpose of the American Economic Committee for Palestine, under the leadership of Israel B. Brodie, Robert Szold and others. The New York office, which I visited, has already accumulated a wealth of data on Palestine. Moreover, I congratulate the Committee on its selection of such an able man as Rahabaiah Lewin-Epstein to take charge of its Bureau in Tel-Aviv.

“Mr. Lewin-Epstein, coming as he does from a family which is held in great esteem in Palestine, will be able to avail himself of the counsel and assistance of the best elements in the country. I feel that if similar committees are formed in other countries and if they cooperate effectively through a central bureau in Eretz Israel, the growth of Palestine will be greatly facilitated and its capacity for absorbing increased immigration greatly enhanced”.