This post is a follow up to the Kashrut for New Olim post. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out -- there's important information there!
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES in Israel - Specific Kashrut Issues
Unlike in other parts of the world, in Israel, fruits and vegetables are NOT automatically "kosher" - here we need to make sure that they are not "orlah" fruits (harvested during a tree's first 3 yrs, with other rules applying to year 4) and that trumot and ma'asrot have been taken (from both fruits and vegetables). Without these basics, these fruits and vegetables are NOT acceptable in a kosher kitchen!
If you shop at a market that doesn't have an ishur kashrut (kosher certification) on their produce, you'll need to investigate these issues further, if you are interested in adhering to the halachot of the Land of Israel OR if you regularly host people who assume the food in your home is kosher! I must say that it's important to familiarize yourself with these special halachot, as they are part of keeping kosher in Israel! (If you say you keep Kosher in Israel, everyone assumes that you have taken care of these issues; and if you don't, then you may be unwittingly putting someone in a situation they don't want to be in!)
It's definitely possible to take trumot and maasrot on your own (I do it often), so vegetables are easiest to buy without a teudah, as that is all you need to do (and very often, it would be without a bracha). Some of the fruits on the market may be ok to purchase even from a non-certified establishment and just take trumot and maasrot, because of the extremely low percentage of orlah fruits being sold, but those lists change frequently, so you'll constantly need to stay up-to-date.
Other fruits can be a problem, because of orlah (from the first 3 years after the tree was planted). I try very hard to post a monthly update here on my site with a list of the fruits where the percentage of orlah fruits on the open market is greater than 0.5%. These fruits should only be bought from a reputable source that does not sell orlah fruits (i.e. a place with a teudah). This orlah issue is a serious issue for kosher consumers:
ORLAH Update for Kislev 5779
Fruits to AVOID buying without a teudah:
- Avocado - Ettinger, Haas varieties
- Blueberries
- Annona
- Grapefruit (White)
- Guava
- Strawberry Guava
- Olives for curing
- Olives for oil (Barnea)
- Lemon
- Seedless grapes: Scarlotta
- Papaya
- Pitaya (Dragon Fruit) (Pri Eden and Yellow variety)
- Prickly Pear (Sabra Fruit)
- Clementines - Michal, Merav, Morkutt Satsuma varieties
- Oranges - Newhall variety, Blood oranges
- Starfruit
- Passionfruit
- Almonds
- Figs
- Apples - Grand, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Pink Lady
Please be sure to speak with your personal Halachic Authority about purchasing fruit in Israel without a teudah. Not everyone holds by the 0.5% threshold, and there are differences of opinion about certain fruits and whether they are subject to Orlah. This information is just for informational purposes and is not a halachic psak! Even if you follow a psak that relies on the 0.5% threshold, you still must take trumot and maasrot on all produce grown in Israel (or be sure it has been taken), in order to fulfill your halachic obligations.
Also, be aware that this list does NOT apply to fruit grown by an individual. If your friend has a fruit tree, you'll need to find out how old it is!
I hope you find this helpful! Please follow or like my Facebook page and don't miss out on updates and other posts!
Can it b assumed that fruits and veggies bought in market in mercaz and kanyon are ok?
ReplyDeleteI never make assumptions. Ask to see the teudah or ishur.
Deleteif you are asking about a specific location, please specify. I'm thinking maybe you are from Katzrin and you're asking about specifically the store in the kenyon and the makolet in merkaz eitan. If yes, those are fine.
Delete1) Where does the 0.5% threshold come from?
ReplyDelete2) How do you determine what the % is for each fruit?
In Israel, the orlah threshold is generally accepted to be no more than 0.5%. Some people hold that even this miniscule amount is not acceptable.
DeleteI don't do the calculations about the percentages, I just call the orlah hotline and get their update.They investigate marketplace conditions.
Hope that helps!
Supersol in Gilo Hey in the Uptown building is undergoing renovation but I do not understand why they do not have a teudah. Asked the non religious workers in customer service and they say it is covered. Is there anything a person can do to verify?
ReplyDeleteThe store should have an ishur or teudah. You might want to call the rabbanut office in charge of Jerusalem kashrut certificates and ask them if it's covered. I would be shocked if they aren't.
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