Storm damage to raise vegetable prices

Bad weather raging through Israel causes NIS 20 million worth of damage to agriculture industry, hiking up prices and harming produce export

Meirav Crystal|Published: 12.14.10 , 13:16

Vegetable prices are expected to rise in the upcoming months as result of damages caused to crops by the adverse weather conditions, CEO of the Vegetable Growers Association Meir Ifrah said Monday.

An initial estimation shows that the storm caused NIS 20 million ($5.5 million) worth of damage; approximately 400 dunam (99 acres) of nylon covering were torn off of greenhouses holding pepper, cucumber and eggplant crops, exposing the produce to the cold and wind. About 60 duman (15 acres) of tunnel greenhouses collapsed entirely.

In the Negev, sandstorms tore the covering and let sand into the greenhouses, exposing the crops to harmful insects and infections. The open vegetable farms nationwide were harmed as well.

"The farmers are not doing well," Ifrah said. "First there was heat, now there's a storm, and in the center there's a government that doesn't approve foreign workers, raises the water tariffs and doesn't desalinate."

Ifrah added that the harvests were insured for 50% of the damage through the Plants Production and Marketing Board, while some of the farmers have also bought private insurance, "because they know that salvation will not come from the government."

The shortage in production and in agriculture workers is not only likely to raise prices but also to put a serious dent in the export of produce to Europe, where the demand for Israeli fruits and vegetables is expected to be high this year.

"We will estimate the damage more accurately once the weather calms down," Ifrah said. "But there is not doubt that the produce might not be good enough for export, because plant diseases and quality damage will occur."