Ben Dor, one of the leading plum suppliers in Israel, is anticipating a steady export campaign for the fruit this year, albeit down slightly on 2012 when supply outstripped demand.
The group, which is based in th Upper Galilee region of the country, is well-known for its development of coloured apricots that are proving popular in Europe, and it has been focusing some of its creative efforts on developing new plum varieties – such as the watermelon plum that was trialled in Morrisons' stores last year.
Developing varieties to ensure a longer supply season has also been high on Ben Dor's agenda, as well as developing niche products like plumgranates, lamoons and shark teeth plums.
Moving forward, Ben Dor is looking to renew its planted area for plums, rather than simply increasing its cultivation area, as it seeks to replace older trees with new, home-developed varieties from its own back catalogue.
