Eating Organic at Reasonable Prices
Dec 20th, 2007 by Ornitte Nagar
Why is it more expensive to buy ‘clean’ food than food containing additives and pesticide residues?Many people who would like to eat naturally, are forced to eat commercially-produced food containing pesticide residues and preservatives because natural food is beyond their budget.
This seems counterintuitive.
Every person regardless of income level should have the basic right to eat healthy food. While about 1.5% of total agricultural production in Israel is organic, over 80% is exported for sale abroad. This low demand for organic in Israel contributes to higher prices. Hopefully increased awareness and demand will bring prices down in the future.
In the meantime, some farmers are willing to sell food directly to consumers, cutting out the middle men. This slightly reduces the cost of eating organic, and for those who have never tasted the difference between freshly-picked veggies and cold-storage veggies, you won’t believe the difference!
Here is a list of good deals or farmers who sell directly to consumers. Post those you know about so we can create a comprehensive list.
|
Name |
Location | Telephone | Description |
| Biocenter | Givat Chen, near Raanana | 09-744-6080 | Every Friday between 13:00 and 15:00 this health food store has a large sale on about 10-15 different types of fruits and vegetables. Prices can be as much as 50% off! (Mostly cold-storage produce) |
| Gan HaSadeh - Roi | Modiin, deliveries to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem | 054-6939320 | Freshly-picked vegetables, also offers fruit and some staples at bulk prices from other suppliers. |
| Derech Chaim | near Michmoret, no deliveries | 054-4522658 | Sell vegetables they grow, plus from other suppliers. |
| Teva HaBasor | Ein HaBasor, regional deliveries | 08-9982214 | Freshly-picked vegetables and herbs, plus fruits and staples from other suppliers. |
| Hubeiza | near Latrun, deliveries between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem | registration via their website: http://www.chubeza.com/ | Pay for a small or large box of vegetables, and receive a suprise every week! These were the tastiest vegetables I’ve ever tasted. |
In Jerusalem, Meir Todress of HaChavah Ha’organit woos you with his magnificent box of freshly picked fruits and vegetables delivered to the door each week. Meir, who left business management to explore the world of food, scours local farms between Rishon and Yavneh for the best of the current crops – spicy rocket and fresh lettuces, their root ends still bearing bits of warm earth.
Along with his partner, Shoshana Lederman, HaChavah Ha’organit is committed to making organic produce affordable, with competitive prices.
A reader writes in: “Please add Gabriella’s Farm http://www.gabriella.co.il/ They also do the small/big box of vegetables, but they also offer breads and breakfast food, toothpaste and cleaning supplies, etc.”
We shouldn’t forget that if you are in the Beit Shemesh area we have an great Organic Shuk (Hagit’s) on Tuesdays at Kibbutz Tzora.. Deliveries available to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem contact Hagit at hadany12@bezeqint.net if you are in need..
[...] lettuces, cabbages (who else gets sometimes 2 a week in their vegetable box? see GreenProphet blog:Eating Organic at Reasonable Prices) ,peelings and all manner of stuff all mulchin’ down together. And if that isn’t [...]
You should probably add the good folks at Or- Gani as well. They are a relatively new CSA!
http://www.or-gani.org.il/
Or-gani farm near Hadera provides members with great organic vegetables on a subscription basis. They are eagerly seeking additional members in Kfar Saba, Ra’anana, Tel Aviv and possibly other places. See http://www.or-gani.org.il/
Shoshana