Vegetable exports from Israel have increased in 2004-05 reaching a record 395,000 tonnes - a seven per cent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Sales revenues for this season are expected to amount to $400 million, six per cent more than in the corresponding period a year earlier. Israeli farm minister Yisrael Katz released the details of the significant increase and attributed the development to the fact that there has been an increase of 50 per cent in the number of farmers growing vegetables for export.

Potatoes led the export basket with 242,000t; capsicum, including chilli peppers - 68,000t, a 20 per cent increase; carrots - 16,000t (30 per cent up); fresh herbs - 10,000t; cherry tomatoes, including cherry-on-the-vine -15,400t (35 per cent rise); celery - 3,500t; strawberries - 2,215t, a 20 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.

According to the details, the vegetable that generated the highest returns to growers was capsicum, which amounted to €106 million, 10 per cent up on last year. This was closely followed by fresh herbs, with €70 million, up 10 per cent. The main markets for Israeli vegetables are in western Europe, amounting to some 80 per cent of total exports. The UK continues to be the largest market for Israelis taking 60 per cent of export volumes, The US follows it in second place with a 20 per cent share.

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