‘Israeli’ agriculture sector faces “collapse” amid boycott: report

• ‘Israeli’ fruit growers report a "looming collapse" of the industry as major European retailers in Belgium, Ireland, and the UK halt orders, leaving tons of mangoes and citrus to rot due to consumer-led boycotts and ethical concerns over the war on Gaza.
• The sector is facing a "perfect storm" of financial ruin caused by the loss of Gaza as a primary buyer and persistent Houthi maritime blockades, which have forced shipping reroutes that degrade fruit quality and triple delivery times to Asian markets.

‘Israel's’ agricultural sector is grappling with a severe export crisis, particularly affecting fruit shipments to European markets.

Recent reports from the public broadcaster Kan 11, cited by Monodweiss, highlight what growers describe as a looming "collapse" in the industry, driven by international boycotts linked to the ongoing assault on Gaza.

Farmers report that high-quality ‘Israeli’ produce, including mangoes and citrus, is increasingly shunned abroad, leading to substantial financial losses and unsold harvests.

European retailers have played a significant role in this downturn. Countries such as Belgium and Ireland have effectively implemented boycotts, while major chains like the UK's Co-op have ceased sourcing from ‘Israel’.

Reports indicate that even in Germany, a traditional ally, supermarkets like Aldi are halting orders without formal announcements, citing consumer backlash and ethical concerns over the Gaza situation.

Mango growers have been hit particularly hard. In September 2025, farmers in regions like the Galilee reported leaving tons of fruit to rot on trees, as harvesting costs exceeded potential sales revenue.

Citrus and date exports face similar challenges. The iconic Jaffa orange has seen demand wane, with overall citrus shipments dropping by a third between 2023 and 2024.

Date growers, anticipating a bumper crop in late 2025, issued calls for domestic purchases to offset flooded European markets and US tariffs diverting competitors' produce there.

The closure of Gaza as a major buyer has further strained the sector, prompting warnings of industry ruin without government intervention.

Compounding these issues is the ongoing blockade of the Red Sea by the Yemen's Houthis.

Despite a May 2025 agreement with the US, disruptions have persisted, forcing shipping reroutes around Africa.

This has led to delays of up to 100 days, increased costs, and quality degradation for exports to Asian markets, which previously absorbed much of ‘Israel's’ fruit surplus.