Vegetable prices rose, and consumption declines in Israel

In August 2024, Israel experienced a significant decrease in the consumption of its most popular vegetables, with a total drop of approximately 2,500 tons or 9% compared to the previous year, as reported by Stornext and EastFruit. The vegetables affected included tomatoes (down 20.9%), sweet peppers (9.1%), cabbages (4%), potatoes (3.7%), and cucumbers (0.9%). This period also saw a notable increase in the prices of these vegetables, with tomatoes experiencing a 45% rise, potatoes by 29.5%, cabbages by 25.5%, cucumbers by 23.5%, and peppers by 20.9%. In response to the tomato shortage, Israel established a quota of 5,000 tons for duty-free imports from Europe to mitigate the market shortage.