Israeli dates

  • Published on 7/04/2016 - Published by DAWSON Carolina
  • FruiTrop n°239 , Page From 32 to 36
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Deeply rooted in Israeli history and culture, the date has only been cultivated for export since the early 2000s, thanks to new technologies providing agricultural water. Despite high production costs the advent of a high added-value variety, Medjoul, has enabled Israel to expand its production and establish itself as the main date supplier to Europe in the top-end segment, ahead of the United States. Medjoul exports are continuing to make strong progress in an increasingly competitive context.

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Summary

Production location and dynamics

The date palm “soaks its feet while its crown roasts in the sky”. The palm plantations extend all the way along the Jordan Valley, from the Red Sea in the south of the country, past Arava, and up via the Dead Sea zone as far as the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) in the north. This earns the date industry its nickname “the industry of the three seas”.

In view of the climate conditions of these desert zones, where extreme heat prevails and where water is lacking, all orchards must be irrigated. New desalination technologies, but above all water recycling technologies, have enabled this crop to expand since the turn of the millennium, in particular in the Arava zone, a region prized for its high-quality produce (coloration, size) and for its political stability. The palm tree has established itself as a favoured crop due to its good salinity tolerance and its high returns, which cover the cost of the water.

Hence this technical breakthrough, as well as growing demand for a particularly prized variety, have helped date production, long stuck between 10 000 and 20 000 t, to make massive strides forward in Israel since 2008. It is estimated that production growth in recent years has been 10 % per annum. Today, production has reportedly exceeded 40 000 t (across all varieties), with a surface area of more than 5 400 ha. So new orchards have appeared throughout the country, in unexploited desert zones or by converting land used for less profitable horticultural crops, such as the pepper. In most cases, the main production facilities are collective (kibbutzes or moshavs).

 

date - israel - production areas map
date - israel - production areas map
date - israel - evolution of production
date - israel - evolution of production

Varieties and harvest calendars

Originating from Morocco, Medjoul (or Medjool) only arrived in Israel from California in the 1970s. Today, the “queen of dates” makes up approximately 80 % of Israeli production, and is highly prized on both the export and local markets. The current growth in production involves this variety exclusively. Hence more than 200 ha have reportedly been planted in the past two years, and 100 new producers have been registered. Medjoul is a soft and sweet date, and also large in size, weighing in at between 20 and 30 grams; whereas other dates range between 6 and 11 grams. The harvest starts in late July-early August and finishes in October-November. It is frozen at between 0° and -2°C at the beginning of the season, and then at -18°C during the production peak, to ensure year-round availability.

This variety is commercially attractive due to its high profitability: its import price varies between 4 000 and 8 000 euros/tonne, depending on the size and quality, and can be up to ten times greater than for other varieties.

Production is topped up by other varieties such as Bahri (natural fresh date, yellow in colour, available from August to October), Deglet Nour and, to a lesser degree, the varieties Hiani, Zahidi, Halwi, Amari and Deri.

 

Outlets

Israeli consumption is reportedly stable or even slightly on the rise, in line with demographic growth. The date is very much an integral part of local culture, and particularly prized during Jewish holidays, especially Rosh Hashana (September-October), Tu BiShvat (January-February) and Passover (March-April). Approximately 2 000 tonnes are also earmarked for the local processing industry to produce date paste or syrup.

Hence 14 000 tonnes, i.e. more than half of production, is intended for export, nearly two-thirds of which goes to Europe, followed by the United States and the Far East. Volumes to all markets are on the rise. Despite its geographic and trade proximity, Russia remains a minor outlet for Israeli dates, in view of their high price.

israeli dates - EU-28 imports
israeli dates - EU-28 imports

In 2014, more than 9 400 t of Israeli dates were imported into Europe, which represents 10 % of the Community market supply. Israel is the main Medjoul supplier to the European market, ahead of the United States which accounted for just 500 tonnes in 2014. The main destination for Israeli dates is the United Kingdom, followed by France, Spain and the Netherlands.

It is thanks to a Medjoul promotion campaign in 2012, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Israeli producers, that date consumption has seen strong growth in the United Kingdom. Hence Israeli date imports rose from 500 tonnes to in excess of 2 000 tonnes per year, making this country the number three supplier to the United Kingdom behind Pakistan and Iran. With an average import price of more than 5 000 euros/tonne, Israeli dates are 2nd in terms of value behind those of the United States and well ahead of those of Iran or Pakistan, which obtain import prices of no more than 1 000 euros/tonne.

France is the number two consumer and re-exporter country of Medjoul. The Netherlands acts as a hub, redistributing Israeli dates to neighbouring countries.

Prospects

Exports of Israeli Medjoul should continue to rise, given the new plantations entering production, export profitability and the success of this top-end variety, demand for which is continuing to grow. In addition, there is still land available and new water recycling plants under construction should provide irrigation for additional surface areas.

However, the high production costs, mainly due to irrigation, mean that the competitiveness of this crop remains crucial. In addition, competition, very limited for the moment, could soon increase. Enticed by the variety’s commercial boom, other producer countries are starting to take an interest. This is the case for Morocco, the historical origin of Medjoul, which, as part of the “Maroc Vert” plan, has been extensively developing date cultivation aimed at the export sector, and is seeking to return to the Community market in the top-end segment.

On the outlet side, the European market is developing though moderately, with Israel taking only very partial advantage of the strong potential of the ethnic market, given the Israeli-Palestinian political problems. Other markets such as the United States should continue to rise, though growth is limited by highly demanding specifications, aimed at protecting local produce. Hence great importance is attached to diversification markets such as India, Australia and Turkey, which have exhibited highly positive growth in recent years.

date - UK - import value in 2015 by supplier country
date - UK - import value in 2015 by supplier country
date - UK - main supplier countries
date - UK - main supplier countries

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