Agrexco UK general manager Oded Yacovson has moved to allay fears that water shortages in Israel could affect exports of Israeli summer lines to the UK.

Water allocations in Israel for fruit producers have been cut by 40 million cubic metres, giving rise to fears that fruit output could be severely affected.

Yacovson said: “We have been facing this problem of water shortage for a long time. But this season will not be dramatically different, in this respect, to last season: we have had a dry winter this year, but we had a dry winter last year.

“Yes, water allocations have been cut, but I do not foresee any shortages in exports to the UK.”

The Organisation of Fruit Growers in Israel had warned in the Israeli press that about 10 per cent of citrus and non-citrus fruit plantations in Israel would be destroyed because of the cuts in water allocations.

It calculated that output could drop by as much as 150,000 tonnes, although much of this will affect lines not slated for export, such as pears and apples.

“We are just planning the mango season now,” Yacovson said. “It is due to start in the last week of July and because of the alternate bearing cycle of the trees with an off-year followed by an on-year, this season will be an off-year, but there will certainly be no shortage.”

He added that the other tree-fruit lines destined for the UK, including figs and lychees, should not suffer any impact either.

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