Israeli exports of sweet potatoes for the season just ended was up 41 per cent compared with the year before, according to Israel’s Plant Production and Marketing Board. Total sendings in 2004-05 amounted to 12,400 tonnes, compared with 8,800t in 2003-04. The main market is the UK, which accounts for half of export volumes followed by France (25 per cent), The Netherlands (15 per cent), and Germany (10 per cent).

According to the Plant Production Board, revenues attained by the growers totaled €8.5 million, against €6.1 million in 2003-04: a 39 per cent rise. Increase in demand and the strong euro were among the main factors which contributed to the increase in growers' income.

Edna Dalal, in charge of the vegetable desk at the Plant Production Board, noted that farmers and exporters plan on increasing acreage and export volumes next season. She added that new storage technologies have worked well to maintain freshness and enhance export quality. “We fetched the highest prices on the wholesale markets, compared with prices for sweet potatoes supplied by exporters from Spain, Egypt, the US and South Africa. It's all a matter of quality and the special variety we export," she said.

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