Israel closes the account — Turkish goods disappear from shelves

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter announced a significant increase in local produce and reduced dependence on imports. According to June data, for the first time since the war began, Israel did not import tomatoes, peppers, or eggs. Before the war, tomato imports were about 40,000 tons per year, mostly from Turkey. Now local producers supply the entire demand. However, fruits and vegetables remain under pressure due to transportation and security issues, with additional costs passed on to consumers.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Avi Dichter announced a significant increase in local production and reduced dependence on foreign supplies. On 104.5FM, he noted that Israel has not imported tomatoes for several months, calling it an unprecedented event. According to June data, for the first time since the war began, the country did not import tomatoes, peppers, or eggs at all. For comparison, in June 2025, about 709 tons of tomatoes and 97 tons of peppers were imported, and in June 2024, about 16 tons of tomatoes and 422 tons of peppers. Before the war, Israel imported about 40,000 tons of tomatoes annually, mostly from Turkey, out of total consumption of about 180,000 tons, accounting for about 22% of domestic demand. Now local producers supply the entire demand. According to a survey by the Retail Research Institute conducted in May 2026, households spend about 13% of their food budget on fruits and vegetables, but since the war began, this segment has been under pressure due to problems in agricultural areas, difficulties with movement, transportation, security, and insurance. Additional costs are passed on to consumers.