Popular - and very expensive:
Against the background of high fruit prices in Israel, the price of watermelon is breaking records this year.
Thus, a kilogram of watermelon in greengrocers is currently sold for NIS 13.9-11.9, while in food chains its price is NIS 9.9-6.9.
"The winter weather caused supply to be smaller than demand, and as a result prices rise automatically," Rami Levy explains to "Israel Today". "The consumer has to make a smart purchase. NIS per kilogram, and today it is 7 shekels on average, gross.
"We now sell watermelons at NIS 6.9 per kilogram. I believe that prices will fall when the weather is warmer."
According to Noy Hadas, owner of the Noy Hasadeh chain, "the watermelon prices in the retail chains are lower because there is no guarantee of taste, sweetness, color and quantity of seeds."
However, she agrees that it is a matter of supply and demand: "Right now the price is high because the season has just started, and there has already been a huge demand for watermelon because of Independence Day. Within a week or two prices will be significantly lower relative to the season."
Meir Yifrach, secretary general of the Vegetable Growers Association, stressed that prices are high because watermelon harvesting has not yet begun in all areas. However, he says that "as soon as the center of the country goes into harvesting, the quantities will increase and as a result the prices will be NIS 3-2 per tower."
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