Israeli carrot farmers have decided to temporarily suspend the export of 200,000 tons of carrot to Russia and Eastern Europe citing the low market prices have made exports less the financially sound.
The suspension will be in effect for three months, pending a review of market conditions.
As carrot season began, the farmers learned that an influx of Russian-grown carrots into those markets had dropped prices to a level that will not only fail to yield a realistic profit, but – when factoring in marketing and logistics coats – may also cause substantial losses.
Carrot exports to Eastern Europe in recent years yielded between $250 and $400 a ton.
The majority of Israel's carrot farmers are based in southern Israel. In a recent pre-season conference, the farmers voted unanimously to suspend exports for three months, in hopes that market conditions will improve by summer.
Plants Production Board Director Zvi Alon said that "Trade with Russia has boomed over the past few years and it is very important to us. Together with the farmers we will work to preserve it and work through this hardship."
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