Avocado yields in Israel are expected to reach a decade-record of 90,000-100,000 tonnes in the 2005-06 season.
Arye Rothman, secretary general of the Israel Avocado Growers Association, told FPJ that in comparison to last year, when the total yield amounted to just 45,000 tonnes, "this year's yield is a result of the alternate growing cycle, but more so due to the entry of new plantations and as a result of applying modern cultivation technologies as well as applying precision irrigation and new farm management systems”.
Israeli avocado growers typically obtain yields of eight tonnes an acre. Rothman estimated that the total export volume this season will be 58,000-60,000t, led by Agrexco, Israel's primary exporter of fresh produce, with nearly 68 per cent of the total export volume, followed by Mehadrin-Tnuport and Kedem. Mehadrin-Tnuport is expected to ship between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of the volume and Kedem around 15 per cent.
Avocado plantations in Israel cover an area of 4,700 hectares. That has been increasing by approximately 250 hectares of new plantations a year, and plans are in place to have the Hass variety comprise 65 per cent of the total planted groves within five years.
Hostilities in the northern region of Israel have not damaged plantations in the Upper, Lower and Western Galilee regions, and avocado plantations are located in different areas throughout the country.
