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.
