After months of damage to Israeli tomato production caused by unprecedented heat and the war’s impact on Israeli agriculture, the Israeli tomato is officially back. Over the summer, Israel had to resort to introducing large quotas of duty-free tomato imports to meet demand, but now 90% of the tomatoes consumed in Israel are produced in the country. The increased supply has resulted in a drop in wholesale prices, which stood at 6.50 shekels per kilogram last week (about 80 cents per pound)—good news for Israelis facing a continuous increase in the cost of living.
Local tomato production from September to December usually meets about half of Israel’s domestic demand during those months. Harvesting tomatoes in the fall depends on planting tomatoes in the summer, which was particularly challenging this year.
In recent months, the Ministry of Agriculture has provided targeted support aimed at encouraging farmers to plant tomatoes when income from tomato cultivation was not guaranteed. This support is intended to provide a safety net for farmers and incentivize them to plant on a larger scale.
Local tomato supply has increased significantly over the past month, thanks to the mild autumn temperatures that allowed for growth. Tomatoes are being supplied to the market from the Arava, the Jordan Valley, the coastal plain, the Beit She’an Valley, and the Western Negev.
“We are witnessing an impressive recovery of local agriculture after a challenging period for the sector,” Oren Lavi, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture said.
According to Lavi, the rapid recovery is the result of Israeli farmers’ dedication and of government support for expanding cultivation areas and increasing yields. “This is proof that strengthening local production reduces dependence on imports,” Lavi said. “It is a significant step toward ensuring food security in Israel and empowering local agriculture both in times of crisis and during routine periods.”
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently drafting a support plan for the tomato sector in preparation for the upcoming planting season in March.
The Israeli public consumes approximately 16,000 tons of tomatoes per month on average. Most tomatoes are typically produced locally, with imports supplementing domestic demand in large quantities during the summer and autumn months and to a lesser extent during the rest of the year. Policies promoting imports and sharp tariff reductions, without corresponding support for farmers, have led to a decline in local production over the past decade. In just the last two years, Israel’s tomato yield has dropped from about 155,000 tons in 2016 to approximately 120,000 tons.
The tomato sector suffered a severe blow following the Hamas attack on October 7. The ongoing fighting in the Western Negev, known as Israel’s vegetable basket, caused significant damage to many farms during the initial months of the war. Numerous farms were destroyed and looted in the attack, others were left without workers, and many were left without farm managers who were either called up for reserve duty or evacuated from the area.
During the period following the attacks, tomato imports were expanded. Up until last year, the majority of imports came from Turkey and Jordan. Due to Turkey's export boycott and concerns over public health in Jordan, imports from these countries were significantly reduced. At the same time, local yields hit a low due to extreme heat and challenging growing conditions. This double whammy led many critics to note the importance of local production for maintaining Israel food security.
In response to the lack of tomatoes, the Ministry of Agriculture allowed 10,000 tons of tomatoes to be imported duty-free from August to November. Some tomatoes were brought to Israel from the Netherlands and other countries, but imports didn’t reach 10,000 tons. Tomato imports from Europe are not cost-effective due to high transportation costs and significant losses, as tomatoes are considered a perishable product with a short shelf life.
Tomato imports dropped to a minimal level, totaling around 700 tons in November, compared to 11,270 tons in October 2023. Local tomatoes are significantly cheaper for importers and distributors, which is why, since the closure of Turkish and Jordanian markets, distributors have preferred Israeli-grown tomatoes.
The Ministry of Agriculture aims to reduce reliance on imports by increasing local production by around 30% over the next decade, as part of implementing the government’s food security strategy.
Most tomatoes in Israel are grown in greenhouses and net houses, which protect the plants from both weather conditions and pests and diseases. As part of the support announced by the Ministry of Agriculture over the past year, 10 million shekels (about $2.75 million) has been allocated to improve infrastructure and establish advanced greenhouses and net houses for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants. The goal of those investments is to increase local agricultural production and enhance supply continuity.
This article was translated from Hebrew by Nancye Kochen.
