Israeli grape shipments to peak next week

The Israeli grape harvest season started about a week ago and the first containers are already on the water. “The moderate weather allowed for a very good growing season; the crop has a nice appearance and it is in excellent shape,” assures Oron Ziv, one of the founders of the producing and exporting company BeFresh.

Production volumes are similar to last year’s, although the amounts distributed in the domestic and the overseas markets will vary compared to last season, as this highly depends on prices and market conditions. According to Ziv, the main export destinations will be Europe and Russia.

BeFresh normally enters the market with its Early Sweet white seedless grapes during the three week gap between the end of the Indian season and the start of the campaign in Egypt, where the predominant variety is the Superior Seedless (or Sugar One). “We believe that our grapes are currently the best option in terms of taste and appearance. Our first air shipments have also started and we expect shipment volumes to peak by the start of next week,” says Ziv.

The founder of BeFresh explains that it has been a tough season when it comes to prices for most products, so it is difficult to predict how grapes will do. “For the first air shipment we got a good price, as the market is pretty much empty, mostly due to the early finish of the Indian season. Next week we will see how we do, and even then, the big question mark is for how long it will last, as we have yet to see what volumes Egypt will ship.”

Ziv also mentions that last season was terrible for many operators, so many are being careful about where to ship. “In most cases last year, we could get better prices in the local market than in Europe, where the market was totally collapsed, and the situation was similar in Russia. We expect this campaign to be different, but we will be cautious and adopt a more conservative approach.”

BeFresh Grapes sales
Marnix van Fraassen
Direct Source International B.V
Tel: +31 78 674 91 91
Email: marnix@direct-source.nl
For more information:
Oron Ziv
Email: oron@befreshcorp.com
www.BeFreshcorp.com

Publication date: 5/29/2014
Author: Juan Zea Estellés
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

The Six Soil Types

 

Loamy soil - often seen as the ultimate garden soil because most plants will grow in it, this is brown and crumbly in texture and similar to that found on well-worked allotments. It's rarely waterlogged in winter or dry in summer and supports a wide range of plants. Loamy soil is light and easy to dig and is naturally high in nutrients
Chalky soil - typical of south-east England, chalky soil is very shallow, full of clumps of white chalk or flint and is very free-draining. This means it can be bone dry in summer and plants will need far more watering and feeding than on any other soil. Chalky soils are always alkaline, which restricts the number of plants that can grow on them. Planting may also be difficult as spades frequently hit lumps of hard chalk or flint
Clay soil - this is sticky to handle and can be easily rolled into a ball shape. It is naturally high in nutrients so plants that like these conditions should do particularly well. It does pose some problems. In summer, it is often baked dry, with visible surface cracks, making it difficult to get water to plant roots. Yet in winter, it can be constantly wet and waterlogging is common. It is hard to dig at most times of the year
Silty soil - is made up of fine grains, originally deposited by a river. The tiny particles give it a silky feel if rubbed between the fingers. It does not form distinct shapes like clay when wet, but it can be rolled into sausage-like strips. Silty soils can be badly drained but are not prone to waterlogging.
Peaty soil - the fens of eastern England are very peaty and are some of the country's best farmland. Plants grow happily in it, as long as they can adjust to the relatively acid conditions. Almost black to look at, easy to dig over and spongy to the touch, peaty soil can be soaking in winter and dry during most of the summer.
Sandy soil - feels rough and gritty when handled and will not form distinct shapes like clay. It usually has a sandy brown colour and is easy to dig over. Water-logging is rare on such soils as they are very free-draining and, accordingly, watering and feeding of plants is needed on a regular basis. It is quick to warm up in the spring, so sowing and planting can be done earlier in the year than with clay or silty soil.
source : http://gardenreboot.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-six-soil-types.html

Pricing Irrigation Water: Principles and Cases from Developing Countries

Yacov Tsur,:September 30, 2010

Routledge - Publisher

Description

As globalization links economies, the value of a country's irrigation water becomes increasingly sensitive to competitive forces in world markets. Water policy at the national and regional levels will need to accommodate these forces or water is likely to become undervalued. The inefficient use of this resource will lessen a country's comparative advantage in world markets and slow its transition to higher incomes, particularly in rural households. While professionals widely agree on what constitutes sound water resource management, they have not yet reached a consensus on the best ways of implementing policies. Policymakers have considered pricing water - a debated intervention - in many variations. Setting the price 'right,' some say, may guide different types of users in efficient water use by sending a signal about the value of this resource. Aside from efficiency, itself an important policy objective, equity, accessibility, and implementation costs associated with the right pricing must be considered. Focusing on the examples of China, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, and Turkey, Pricing Irrigation Water provides a clear methodology for studying farm-level demand for irrigation water. This book is the first to link the macroeconomics of policies affecting trade to the microeconomics of water demand for irrigation and, in the case of Morocco, to link these forces to the creation of a water user-rights market. This type of market reform, the contributors argue, will result in growing economic benefits to both rural and urban households.

Why a Tomato Cracks and What to Do About It

Tomato cracks (sometimes called “growth cracks”) are a problem associated with growing conditions. Dry weather that gives way to excessive watering or a rainy period can lead to cracking.

Here’s what happens when a tomato cracks:

• Tomato plants get too much water too fast.
• A tomato’s interior grows quickly as it absorbs the extra water from rain or disproportionate watering, but it expands too fast.
• The tomato skin can’t stretch to accommodate the extra fluid.
• Cracking alleviates pressure.

What do tomato cracks look like?

Radial cracks
Photo: Colorado State University

Concentric cracks
Photo: Colorado State University

Cracks usually affect the stem end of the tomato (the entry point of water into the fruit). There are two types of cracks:concentric and radial.

Concentric cracks: circles that span a section or the entire circumference of the tomato around the stem end of the fruit
Radial cracks: straight lines that extend outward and downward from the stem node

When do tomato affect fruit?

• during warm, wet weather
• during wet weather that follows a dry period
• after excessive watering that follows a dry period

Can I eat cracked tomatoes?

Yes. Pick a cracked tomato as soon as possible to avoid infection. When preparing a cracked tomato, simply cut out affected parts. Cracked tomatoes don’t keep as long as unaffected ones.

 

How do you prevent cracks?

• Plant crack-resistant tomato varieties that have elastic skin, including Daybreak, Early Girl, Earl of Edgecombe, Heinz 1350, Jet Star, Juliet, Mountain Delight, Mountain Pride, and Valley Girl.

• Mulch plants (wait until they’re established – about 3-5 weeks after planting) to help retain moisture in the soil.
• Keep water supply even throughout the season. While you can’t control the weather conditions, you can make sure that plants are on a regular watering schedule. Tomato plants need 1-3” water a week (including rain.) During dry spells, water tomatoes deeply so that subsequent rain won’t shock skins and lead to unnecessary cracking – use a drip hose or other irrigation system. Ask a neighbor or friend to water your tomatoes while you’re on vacation.
• Apply balanced fertilizer. When blossoms and fruit develop, tomatoes need more phosphorus and potassium. Excessive nitrogen can cause plants to grow too quickly, leading to cracking.
• Don’t over-fertilize. Excess nutrients can cause a growth spurt. Tomatoes can have a hard time compensating and may crack.

Special tips

• Beefsteak varieties are more prone to cracking.
• If tomato plants dry out, water them just enough to keep them alive. Too much water at one time sets up conditions for tomato cracking. Once your plants have recovered from their dry spell, slowly re-establish a regular watering schedule.