The organics market is gathering pace for Israeli marketer Agrexco-Carmel this winter, with organic Wonderful pomegranates due to be added to the line-up next week.
Organic Sharonfruit and Ettinger avocados are also selling well and the firm is looking forward to a strong export season for the three products.
Agrexco product manager Eitan Kurant, who for the last seventeen years has been the man behind Carmel’s organic supply, said: “Agrexco is encouraging more and more conventional growers to become organic growers, in spite of the long conversion process and the high costs it requires.
“This season we hope to increase quantities and expand our presence in the organic markets of more European countries.”
Agrexco is aiming to export 20 tonnes of organic Wonderful pomegranates this season and another 25t-worth is in conversion - a 50 per cent increase from last season. Target markets are the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
The organic pomegranate is being kept in Xtend packaging, consisting of a special lining which creates a controlled environment and enables storage of the fruit for months without any loss of weight or shrinking.
Carmel-branded organic Sharonfruit is grown in Kibbutz Dan, in the northern part of Israel. This year’s export crop amounts to 70-80t - an exceptional rise on last year's 7t.
The export season for organic Ettinger avocados started some weeks ago and volumes are expected to rise from 1,500t last season to 1,900t this winter.
The organic avocado is grown from Kibbutz Dan in the north down to Kibbutz Nirim in the south, including large plantations in the western Galilee, Kibbutz Gaaton and in the area east of Hedera, Kibbutz Metzer and Magal.
The organic avocado will be marketed in the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and other European countries, as well as to the US. Kurant said: “This season will mark a change, with the avocado present not only in specialised organic stores but also in supermarkets.”
The season will last until April.
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