5 6 4 1 2 3 92 93 Chapter Six | Agriculture Insect-free vegetables The method for growing insect-free leafy greens was invented and developed by a farmer from Moshav Gadid, Eli Ben Naim. Together with his agronomist friend, Shimon Biton, he began developing le�uce for the ultra-Orthodox sector, for Passover of 1989. Two years later, other insect-free leafy greens were already on the market. A�er several years of research, many a�empts, losses and disappointments, the duo's inven�on materialized and became professional. Researchers from all over the world came to Gush Ka�f to study the subject, and to this day it is considered a huge success. The inven�on of insect-free leafy greens actually changed agriculture and cuisine in Israel and the en�re world. The principal is growing in a greenhouse on a close-knit mesh that prevents �ny insects from entering the growing substrate, thus keeping the leafy vegetable free from insects. The cul�va�on is closely supervised by rabbis and professionals. Before each harvest, rabbis with knowledge of entomology (the study of insects) carry out a sample test around the greenhouse. If, according to the test results, the vegetables are insect-free, they can be marketed to the consumer.21 In the beginning, the two inventors shared their ideas with Rabbi Yosef Elnekaveh, Head of the Religious Council; Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, the Regional Rabbi; and his secretary, Eliezer Barat from Kfar Darom, and that is how the wheels started turning. The agronomist brought exis�ng technologies from flower and spice cul�va�ons, as well as strict supervision. Rabbi Elnekaveh turned to the various rabbis to get their confirma�on, and Rabbi Kaminetzky assumed responsibility and led the process together with the Torah ve HaAretz Ins�tute. Rabbis from across Israel were invited to explain the method, and they all gave their blessing. The field started developing, at first, with individual farmers from Gadid, Yoav Elul and Pinchas Bublil, and with a few acres. Then, it developed into dozens and hundreds hectares across Gush Ka�f. In 1998, the largest plant in the Middle East for the produc�on of leafy greens was established in Kfar Darom. It had 4000 square meters of produc�on halls and cold storage. Packaging revolved around whole vegetables, and washed, chopped vegetables. Many efforts were invested in the quality and cleanliness from pes�cide residues, and indeed, they met both European and American standard. Market requirements led to further developments, including year-round supply at high standards. Thanks to this growing method, leafy vegetables have returned to being a staple food of the kosher Jewish kitchen menu. Brands like 'Hasalat', 'Yerek Neto' and 'Bikurei Ka�f', have become iden�fied with the premium quality of vegetables who remain freshly packed and preserved all the way to consumer homes. To this day, they are called 'Gush Ka�f vegetables' without any connec�on to their current place of cul�va�on. 22 Of course, not everything was easy in this new crop. Farmers experienced quite a few difficul�es and disappointments. Eliezer Barat from Kfar Darom said, "The big disappointment came when I accompanied the first van to Tel Aviv with several hundred le�uce heads. They were beau�fully packaged with the approval of Rabbi Kaminetzky, under whose supervision the cul�va�on was carried out. But the product failed to s�r any excitment in the market, because we charged NIS 12 per carton. A�er an hour they bought one carton... We went to Bnei Brak and told the vegetable mongers: We will take it back if it is not sold. It was an innova�ve concept for the religious public, and the deeper our marke�ng had penetrated, the business gained more momentum and generated demand. Very quickly we realized that we needed to specialize in marke�ng as well, and we established a marke�ng company 'Yael - Leafy Vegetable Marke�ng' with warehouses and a logis�cs center. It developed into an independent business, marketed from Eilat to the Golan Heights. We established our own packing house with quality products that meet high standards, and we were strict about design and quality. Thus, a complete, large-scale system was created, with many employees.23 House plants and flowers The search for new agricultural areas of exper�se also brought house plants to Gush Ka�f. The largest nurseries in the country were established in the se�lements of Ka�f, Atzmona and Ganei Tal, which accounted for about 50% of the geranium crops and house plants in Israel. From these three, Atzmona was the largest. It spread over 8 hectares, with about 400,000 seedlings of dozens types and species. That is why it became the representa�ve enterprise of Gush Ka�f. Everyone who entered the gates understood the magnitude of the agricultural enterprise of the en�re region. In Ganei Tal, some farmers specialized in geranium cul�va�on due to the op�mal condi�ons on site - a fine balance between sea and desert, bright sunlight, good water and sand. They grew over 250 varie�es of geraniums, almost all des�ned for export. They were a kind of 'agricultural high-tech' in terms of quality, reliability and punctuality. Also, most of the geranium cu�ngs exported from Israel to Europe were from Gush Ka�f. The extensive knowledge and trailblazing professionalism led to the growth of the industry and its success.24 Animal farming Animal farming also reached Gush Ka�f, and was very diverse. Aquaculture developed in the north of the region - the fishing industry and fishpond farms for growing edible fish in seawater were cul�vated in Dugit. Poultry and turkey farms were established in Netzarim and Atzmona. Ka�f cowshed, shared by Ka�f and Atzmona, included about 800 dairy cows and heffers, making it one of the largest in Israel.25 1 Insect-free le�uce greenhouse 2 'Alei Ka�f' factory in Kfar Darom 3 Atzmona Nursery 4 Geranium greenhouse in Ganei Tal 5 The cowshed in Ka�f 6 The chicken coop in Atzmona
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