Cherry orchards in Gush Etzion are now blanketed in white as the blooming season begins, a sight that reminds many of the cherry blossoms in Japan. Every year, the blossoms draws visitors from across Israel, and this year is no exception — despite the complex security situation and the ongoing campaign against Iran, travelers are still arriving to take in the scenery.
For farmers, the blooming period is a key stage in the growing season. To ensure effective pollination of the cherry trees amid the changing weather of the transitional season, growers rely on imported bumblebee hives. These bees remain active even in low temperatures and windy conditions, enabling more efficient pollination. Their activity helps orchards in the area reach yields of up to a ton or more per dunam.
Cherry picking in Gush Etzion is set to begin in May and June.
The blossoming has also begun in the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, each at its own pace. Amit Cohen, a farmer from Kibbutz Malkiya in the Upper Galilee, who cultivates 70 dunams of cherries, said that “blossoming here started about a week ago. The process began a few weeks earlier, but winter weather slowed it somewhat, and now we’re at the peak. The weather is currently cold and rainy. Temperature is a significant factor, because bees don’t like rain and cold. The past two weeks have been more challenging for the bees, and that could affect fruit yields.”
The war is posing challenges for local agriculture, but Cohen said that, despite labor shortages, they are managing. Estimated output in Malkiya’s orchards is about 650 kilograms of cherries.