Israel's citrus sector is developing and expanding at a rate not envisaged by growers, it has emerged.
Some 1,300 hectares of new citrus plantations were planted in different parts of the country last year, and the nurseries have orders for the next two years, for easy peelers in particular.
It is estimated that the total citrus yield this season will reach 640,000 tonnes, worth US$225 million (£108.3m), and that the new plantations will see total annual yield amount to 800,000t within two to three years.
Hai Binyamini, secretary of the Citrus Growers’ Association, said the bulk of the new plantations is comprised of several varieties of grapefruits and of the new easy peeler, OR.
This variety has been bred and developed in Israel and has made inroads into foreign markets.
Binyamini said citrus orchards now cover 20,000ha - 50 per cent are in the southern part of the country, 20 per cent in the north, and 30 per cent in the central part.
He added that the rapid development of the sector can be partly attributed to the availability of water and the planting of new varieties that meet consumer preferences in different countries.
There has been a significant increase in the export of citrus to Russia and eastern European countries in recent years, accounting for 20 per cent of the total export volume.
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