Israel’s current citrus exports are now running 600,000 cases ahead of last year despite the season’s late start, the delayed arrival in Israel of many citrus-loading vessels and the severe gales and snowstorms which eliminated the equivalent of 2 million cases from the citrus export market. This report on the status of Israel’s number one export was given to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here today by Moshe Levin, European Director of the Israel Citrus Marketing Board. He said that despite all of the obstacles, Israel will export an estimated 37 million cases of citrus fruit this season, about 3 million cases more than last season.
Mr. Levin said that Israeli oranges are selling for an average of one pound sterling ($2.40) per box or carton on the European market. He said that the fruit is very good and that the demand is about the same as last year, which was a good year. Mr. Levin noted that Spanish oranges, Israel’s chief competitor at this time of year, were affected by the cold spell which invariably benefits Israeli sales to some extent. Mr. Levin said that the storm damage suffered by the Israeli citrus crop did not add up to a total loss. While fruit blown off the trees by the high winds was not suited for export, it was adequate for the factories that make citrus juice and other by-products.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
