Dr. Nachum Itzkovitz, director-general of the Agriculture Ministry, has appealed to the government's coronavirus czar, Prof. Ronni Gamzu, as well as the Health Ministry's director-general, Prof. Hezi Levy, asking them to allow trade to continue in fresh produce in the event that a nationwide lockdown is imposed.
"Keeping markets open is vital for the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector, as well as ensuring a wide variety of produce for Israeli consumer. It will also reduce overcrowding in stores selling fresh foods, and enable people to purchase the 'four species' [arba'at haminim] for the upcoming Sukkot festival," he wrote.