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Photo: Yaron Brener
Jordanian sources claim that the export of some 500 tons of cucumbers to Israel in November has resulted in a spike in local cucumber prices.
The As-Sabeel weekly quoted Jordanian sources as saying that local merchants and middlemen purchased the produce at local vegetable markets in order to sell it to Israel at relatively steep prices.
Hashemite Kingdom
Doron Peskin
Official report of rising rates of olive export from Hashemite Kingdom to Israel, amounting to some 300 tons exported per day, awakens public debate on whether trend should be allowed to continue, as it 'comes at the expense of Palestinians brothers'
Jordanian farmers say that during the transition period between autumn and winter, when cucumber harvests are unstable, Israeli merchants are willing to pay more (3.5-4 dinars, or $5-6.50) for every five-kilogram (10 pound) box of cucumbers.
Meanwhile, say the sources, the export of cucumbers to Israel has spurred an increase in local cucumber prices to a level of 0.7-0.9 dinars, or $1-1.30 per kilo.
The sources say Israeli merchants are purchasing mainly small-sized cucumbers for the canned cucumber industry.
Jordanian farmers told As-Sabeel that they had decided to export cucumbers to Israel despite protests from organizations opposed to the normalization of ties with the Jewish state because they could not sell them to other markets in Syria and the Gulf states.
Doron Peskin is head of research at Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd