For the first time in Israeli supermarkets, labels on the packaging of fruits and vegetables from southern Israel will bear the message "Grown in Gaza border region and Western Negev."
"The new labeling that will soon be seen on the shelves of our supermarket chains, mini markets and greengrocers, will help consumers choose products grown in the Gaza border region and the Western Negev and support the farmers of the south who are experiencing difficult times and have been personally and financially harmed," said Yoram Avigad, CEO of Negev Produce, an agricultural cooperative owned by kibbutzim from the Western Negev region and the surrounding area that sell and market agricultural produce from the region.
"The move puts a spotlight on a critical issue for the State of Israel, the long-term economy and its ability to maintain food security, since without strong Israeli agriculture Israel will depend more and more on the import of vegetables and fruits and in times of crisis even suffer from significant shortages that will harm all citizens," Avigad also said.
More stories:
The war has put the issue of the state's ability to take care of food security in an emergency on the agenda. Attacks by the Houthis and the deterioration of relations with countries like Turkey have only intensified the fact that Israel is an "island economy," highlighting the importance of developing local agriculture for food security.
The Gaza border region and the Western Negev make up about a third of all agricultural lands in Israel, where about half of the wheat, about half of the potatoes and carrots, and about half of the Medjool dates are grown, providing 180 million liters of milk a year, as well as large quantities of onions, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, avocados and more.
Israel also recently introduced a label to mark fresh produce with its land of origin, aiming to bolster support for local farmers.