Israel is blessed with a wide range of microclimates, allowing the country to produce an extremely diverse range of crops. The northwest Negev region includes a large area of sandy soil, all irrigated, where the focus is on potato production. Located fairly close to the Mediterranean Sea, and therefore receiving moderately high summer temperatures, the sandy soils provide excellent growing and harvesting conditions for the potato crop. Around 70 per cent of the 26,000ha of potatoes cultivated in Israel is grown in this area, with other small production areas on less sandy soils in the Negev and in regions in the Sharon Plain and the Golan Heights.
Potato seeds are imported from various sources in Europe and, leading up to October and November, the tubers are treated and planted for the commercial crop.
Israel specialises in the ‘early’ or ‘baby’ potato, with planting beginning in early autumn and marketing taking place around Christmas until March, when produce from competitor countries such as Jersey, Spain and Egypt comes on to the market. Israel continues to market fresh potatoes until June, and from then on sells it produce from
coldstorage.
Total potato production in Israel stands at 500,000-580,000 tonnes a year, of which 250,000-300,000 tonnes is exported annually, mainly to Europe. There are a number of potato-exporting companies from Israel, but privately owned EGO is by far the largest.
EGO is situated in the centre of the Eshkol area and works with its own exclusive growers, cultivating on approximately 2,500ha and producing 120,000-130,000 tonnes a year, of which less than 10 per cent is for the processing industry. EGO supplies around 1,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes weekly to the local market and exports around 65,000 tonnes – 25 per cent of total potato exports from Israel – mainly to the UK.
Potatoes are shipped in bulk to UK pre-packers and ego produce can be found on the shelves of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op. Around 50 potato varieties are handled by EGO, including Nicola and Maris Peer, which are the two main varieties of new potato requested in the UK, as well as Maris Piper, Vivaldy, Dita and Cherie.
According to managing director Eli Arzuan, EGO “doesn’t just sell potatoes”. Field production and the large packing and storage facility are managed according to high ethical and sanitation standards. In addition, Arzuan stresses an emphasis on taste, and a taste-focused campaign is about to take off in the non-discerning local market. Last summer, an area of sweet potatoes was planted, mainly for the local market, and this may become an additional export crop for ego in the future.
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