The carrot cultivation and export are advancing in Israel. The country can supply fresh all year round. This has caused an increasing demand from Russia over the last three years. That is competition for the Dutch carrot sector. When sowing carrots the wishes of the client are being put first. That is, according to the Israeli carrot dealer Gal Nadan, an important trick of the trade of growers in his country. Nadal spoke at the carrots theme day at the Agricultural Exhibition in Emmeloord, Holland last week.

Israel grows common carrots on 3,000 HA and organic carrots on 330 HA. The yields are 100 to 130 tons per HA on average. In the south of Israel cultivation is unlimited, Nadan says. "Only to level a plot of land with a shovel and to put compost on will give you the product after 6 months. Also because of irrigation. We can easily handle a one-in-ten circulation for the organic cultivation."

During the summer it is too hot to sow carrots. Then we supply from cooling.
"We sort the carrots, wash them in water with chlorine against bacteria and store them in big bags. In this way quality is guaranteed. Also we always know exactly how much is in stock."

Cultivation on size
Cultivation on size stimulates sales. "Russsia requires big carrots. So we sow big carrots." For the local market Israelis sow small carrots.

Robert Schilder of Bejo Zaden confirms the Israeli competition in the carrot trade. To supply fresh is a way to compete. Although storage also has advantages. "Foreign countries intend to store more as this improves the taste of the carrot."

"Carrots from sandy soil have no taste at all" as per West Frisian grower Jos de Boer. "We are not even close to the fresh quality supplied by Israel now. But as far as taste is concerned we win. I think the competition from Israel is only temporary. With Spain it was the same. There they did not develop any further after the subsidies ran out."

Source: Agrarisch Dagblad