Israel\'s Citrus Fruit Marketing Council will soon celebrate the 150th anniversary of what it calls \"the first Hebrew orchard of the modern period.\" The occasion will be marked in a ceremony next month at the Beit Dror packing facility, with the participation of Agriculture Minister Shalom Simchon. The Council credits philanthropist Moshe Montefiore with purchasing the first orchard near Jaffa in 1851, for the purpose of supplying work to the Jews living here and to strengthen the Jewish community in Eretz Yisrael.
Over 20% of the Jewish labor force during the British Mandate years worked in the citrus fruit sector, and in the 1970\'s, as many as 420,000 dunams of land (420 square kilometers) produced 1.7 tons of citrus fruits. Increased construction, a drop in worldwide prices, and the water crisis has led to a drop of more than 50% in the area allocated to citrus. Oranges and grapefruits are being replaced by more \"modern\" citrus fruits, in keeping with changing world tastes. Despite all, however, \"the trademark Jaffa orange continues to be another word for citrus quality,\" states the Council.
Over 20% of the Jewish labor force during the British Mandate years worked in the citrus fruit sector, and in the 1970\'s, as many as 420,000 dunams of land (420 square kilometers) produced 1.7 tons of citrus fruits. Increased construction, a drop in worldwide prices, and the water crisis has led to a drop of more than 50% in the area allocated to citrus. Oranges and grapefruits are being replaced by more \"modern\" citrus fruits, in keeping with changing world tastes. Despite all, however, \"the trademark Jaffa orange continues to be another word for citrus quality,\" states the Council.