Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

15 Elul 5764 - September 1, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

OBSERVATIONS

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS
Orloh Fruits from Current Harvest Season Found in Produce Markets
by Betzalel Kahn

A memo sent out to rabbonim and morei horo'oh by Kashrut Lemehadrin-Chakla'ut Al Pi HaTorah warns that at this time of year orloh fruits found in produce markets can present a serious stumbling block to consumers.

Pomegranates, whose picking season is currently underway, have a particularly high percentage of orloh this year. Pomegranate trees even those that are not spliced onto other bases but planted by seed have a tendency to develop fruit- bearing suckers. Even if the tree itself is at least four years old these suckers can still be orloh. This requires extreme caution by the agronomic mashgiach, not relying on general assumptions such as the age of the orchard, but checking the trees on an individual basis.

Kashrus Lemehadrin has credible information about orloh pomegranate orchards scheduled for picking.

Farmers who encounter difficulties selling orloh fruit in Eretz Yisroel have found an alternative, but no less disturbing solution: they sell the fruit to places abroad, even where large numbers of Jews live. Export companies are currently flying pomegranates to various locations for Rosh Hashana. In response, rabbinical figures abroad are being alerted to safeguard the public from this serious stumbling block.

According to Rabbi Shabsai Markovitz of Kashrus Lemehadrin the pomegranate industry has seen a significant upswing in recent years. Growing awareness of the fruit's health benefits has given rise to numerous factories marketing pomegranates in various ways--pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, etc. The rise in demand led to many new plantings and even the setup of nurseries that specialize in developing pomegranate seedlings. Over 10 different varieties of pomegranate are on the market today. New varieties have been planted recently, including a special kind developed in India.

In addition many cactus fruits (sabras) currently sold in produce markets are orloh. When leaves from cactus bushes slant down to the ground and take root, the orloh count must begin anew. Last year 10 percent of cactus fruits were orloh. This calls for extra caution since often people pick roadside cactus fruits or buy them from Arab peddlers.

This year the summer lemon crop also contains orloh, which is relatively unusual in recent years.

Kashrus Lemehadrin advises the public to buy produce only from stores with mehadrin kashrus supervision.

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.