The Plant Council issued a call today (Sunday) to the public to consume fresh fruits produced in Israel instead of imported dried fruits.
She issued the call ahead of Tu B'Shvat, which will fall this year on January 25 (Thursday).
Every year we usually celebrate the Ilanot holiday by eating dried fruits.
The custom originated among Jews who lived in exile and suffered from a lack of fresh fruit during the winter season.
There, they consumed dried fruits brought from Israel instead.
picking oranges this year,
"Today, when you can find dozens of types of fresh fruit produced in the country on the shelves, there is no reason to continue consuming imported and processed dried fruits, some of which are high in added sugar, preservatives and food colors," the Plant Council explains.
"Compared to the dried fruits, the nutritional value of the fresh fruits is much higher," explains Dr. Maya Roseman, clinical nutritionist and scientific advisor to the Plant Council, adding that "the amount of vitamins in the fresh fruits is immeasurably high, especially when it comes to vitamin C, which is especially important for preventing diseases in the winter seasons And the transition, which is only found in fresh fruit."
Eat a strawberry, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
This call by the council also comes due to the great harm experienced by the farmers in Israel following the war of iron swords.
According to Rani Bar-Ness, chairman of the Plant Council and a farmer who grows fruits, "Since the outbreak of the war - many farmers, both from the south of the country and from the north, have been harmed due to the existing situation.
This way (by purchasing fresh fruit) Israelis will both maintain their health and support the local economy and Israeli growers."
The truth is, these days you can find a variety of locally produced fresh fruits on the shelves of supermarkets and markets, including banana, apple, orange, strawberry, pear, kiwi, clementine, melon, persimmon, grapefruit, pomegranate, pomelo, red grapefruit and more.
Don't worry, the date is also included in this list and in Israel it dries naturally on the tree without the need for added sugar or preservatives.
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