Make a salad from the data: there is no shortage of tomatoes and eggs

"The attempt to sow hysteria, as if there were a shortage of vegetables in the country, is part of the exercises that importers do to seek financing, and farmers help them with that," says a senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture, who approved duty-free vegetable import quotas.

Liat Ron

06/04/2022

Wednesday, 06 April 2022, 12:47 Updated: 13:04

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Only yesterday we were informed of a jump in tomato prices due to the cold that hit the countries of the region about two months ago.

The Israeli consumer's ear is already used to such stories: once in the drought, once hail, once haze and once cold.

Any change in the weather is a cause of "shortage" which is followed by a rise in prices.

So yes, it did happen - and even the claim that it harmed crops, especially of tomatoes, is also true.

But a shortage of chains is actually not expected - nor is a price increase, unless someone has decided to do a round on the consumer, as a senior source in the Ministry of Agriculture hints.

If so, Chazalash: Those who started accumulating tomatoes before the holiday, because of the expectation of a sharp rise in prices of over 20 shekels per kilo - can relax. The hysteria is unnecessary. Senior officials in the Ministry of Agriculture tell Walla that there is no reason for the price to continue rising, and more - There is a good chance it has dropped back to a sane level very soon, due to the opening of large tax-exempt import quotas.

Because the price of a tomato to a retailer is between 12 and 15 shekels, the big chains absorb a significant part of the price increase: "It was cold and therefore difficult to grow," Rami Levy said yesterday, "and when there is a shortage, "From Turkey it costs me 8 shekels, and then the state takes another shekel of tax. The state is not ashamed to take a tax, and there are more costs of distribution. The price will reach 20 shekels per kilogram. We are currently subsidizing it."

Rami Levy told the truth, but a few hours after talking to us, it turned out that because of the cold that affected not only tomatoes but also cucumbers and zucchini, the Ministry of Agriculture opened duty-free quotas, on which retailers would not have to pay even a penny of protective caps.

The vegetables are expected to arrive in Israel soon and according to the Ministry of Agriculture, there will be no shortage that will cause prices to rise.

It is true that similar weather conditions in Greece, Turkey and Jordan have led to shortages there as well.

But at least imports from Jordan will continue as usual, due to agreements on the occasion of the shemita year that were signed two years ago - and the Jordanians are committed to them.

More on Walla!

Promotions, service and variety: Why does everyone choose "half free" before Passover?

In semi-free co

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, after opening quotas for duty-free imports, no shortage is expected - neither for eggs nor for tomatoes (Photo: ShutterStock, Doron Shiner)

And other vegetables: Cucumbers and zucchini will also arrive in Israel duty free

According to data from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, an average of 14,000 tons of tomatoes are consumed per month, and before Passover a quota of 1,500 tons was set to cover the shortage, which can be imported from 16 countries approved for import in Europe, including Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany.

In addition, a quota of 4,500 tons was given for cucumbers and zucchini, so that salad and soup will be accessible to every home in Israel.

"Trying to sow hysteria, as if there were a shortage of vegetables in the country, is part of the exercises that importers are doing to seek funding, and farmers are helping them do that, to prove that agricultural reform is hurting local produce and thwarting it," says a senior agriculture official.

Do not believe anyone who transmits a simulated shortage of eggs.

He's just trying to protect his exorbitant profit (Photo: ShutterStock)

Imaginary shortage of eggs

A similar thing, the senior official claims, is happening with the eggs.

"Importers shout that it is impossible to bring eggs from Ukraine and therefore there will be a shortage of eggs on Passover. This is nonsense. The State of Israel imports eggs from Ukraine only in the last two years. Eggs can be imported from Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy and now Spain." Can come from Europe to us in a few days.

"The subject of eggs boils.

Photographing an ultra-Orthodox supermarket in the middle of the day, with empty shelves.

No problem of eggs.

point.

The importers are committed to the marketing chains and there will be no situation in which they will not be provided with eggs.

The matter is quite different.

"Eggs in the country are very expensive, we are in fourth place in the world, and abroad are very cheap. Now the price has gone up a bit abroad and importers are disappointed that they will earn a little less and try to ask the Ministry of Agriculture for funding to keep their excessive profits."

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• Tomatoes

• vegetables

• Cost of living

• Rami Levi

• Ministry of Agriculture

• Customs