Only five years ago, farmers from Kibbutz Nir Oz near Gaza planted for the first time 300 dunams of avocado groves of various varieties. But just before the harvest time came and the first plot ripened, Hamas terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz and carried out the horrific massacre of October 7. Thirty kibbutz members and 11 workers of Thai origin were murdered, 75 kibbutz members and 5 Thais were abducted to the Gaza Strip. Activities in the kibbutz, which had fallen into heavy mourning, were halted, along with avocado picking.
This Shabbat, when an iron sword war began, found farmer Aviv Golani, who grew up on Kibbutz Nir Oz, in the middle of a trip with his family to Mexico. With the first reports, Golani, who now lives in Pardes Hanna, returned to Israel immediately on the first flight he caught to help pick avocados in the groves of Kibbutz Regavim in northern Israel. But upon arrival, he was exposed to the horrors of the kibbutz in the south where his family lived. "I know all 70 abductees from Nir Oz, including two childhood friends. Grief has no end," Golani says. "Therefore, immediately after the massacre, I began to work together with my brother in everything related to community activities in Nir Oz and to help my friends in whatever way I could. That's how I understood that the manager of the avocado orchard had left the kibbutz with his family and lacked knowledge of picking avocados, working hands and tools."
Aviv Golani and Tomer Greenberg, Photo: Eyal Galkin
When they arrived, the plantation area was in bad shape. Some of it burned down, some of it was designated a closed military zone and entry was forbidden. All the tractors and agricultural tools were stolen by Hamas terrorists, some were set on fire, and the shortage of working hands was considerable.
In light of this, Golani turned to Tomer Greenberg, manager of the avocado groves of Kibbutz Regavim, which belongs to Granot Farmers – the agricultural cooperative belonging to about 43 kibbutzim and moshavim in the Emek Hefer area. He shared with him a picture of the situation at Kibbutz Nir Oz. The two didn't think twice. "The situation in Nir Oz was problematic," Greenberg says. "Beyond the bereavement, destruction and destruction on the ground, this is a young orchard where avocado picking has never been carried out. I felt I could contribute from my experience."
Picking avocados in the orchard of Kibbutz Nir Oz, photo: Tomer Greenberg
Within a short time, the two organized a group of volunteers that included farmers and workers of Granot Farmers, along with other volunteers. A group of boys from Nir Oz also decided to stay on the kibbutz and enlist in the mission. Golani told us that "carrying out the harvesting work was very important for the kibbutz members (Nir Oz), as part of rehabilitation and a desire for continuity and a look at normal life, beauty and nature offered by this region, and this was of utmost importance to them and to us."
How did Emek Hefer farmers come to volunteer on the kibbutz where you grew up?
"It was not self-evident to me that the organization to which I belong, Granot Farmers, enlisted, enlisted and provided us – beyond time and resources – with everything we needed: information, equipment and employees, in order to handle the harvest in a region very far from Emek Hefer, but to my delight it happened and for that I am very grateful to my organization."
Despite the complexity of the task, the 30 volunteers showed up early in the morning and began harvesting work. About 40 tons of Ettinger avocados were harvested within a week, and the Haas avocado is currently being harvested, which is expected to last a week. All produce is sent to wholesale markets and food chains throughout the country. In this way, Emek Hefer farmers helped Nir Oz farmers in their difficult hour, effectively saving the season for the kibbutz.
Volunteers at the avocado orchard in Nir Oz with Giora Marom, CEO of Granot Farmers (second from left), photo: Tomer Greenberg
"We succeeded in accomplishing the harvest mission with the cooperation of veteran kibbutz members who work on other farms in Israel, as in the case of Granot Farmers," said Amit Goren, Director General of Gadash Nir Oz, excitedly. "They came, pitched in and provided help – from logistics and equipment, through harvest management, manpower and professional help. But no less important - the help was also morale. They were able to push us forward and help us with everything we needed."
Giora Marom, CEO of Granot Farmers: A few weeks ago we launched an initiative to connect farmers with volunteers and since then we have seen so many good people, whether individuals or groups, leaving everything and coming to orchards and plots, rolling up their sleeves and supporting Israeli agriculture. It's just exciting to see the mutual gratitude."
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