What makes a European apple or kiwi stand out on an Israeli store shelf? It’s the remarkable journey from carefully managed orchards in Poland and Greece to local markets across Israel, backed by some of the world’s most trusted food safety and quality assurance systems. Through the Garden of Europe campaign, Israeli families can enjoy fruit that is fresh, naturally flavorful, fully traceable, and produced in line with the highest international standards.
The Garden of Europe campaign promotes high-quality European apples and kiwis in Israel, highlighting safety, sustainability, and the journey from orchard to consumer.
European farmers operate within a comprehensive certification framework that oversees each step of production. Responsible farming methods and environmental care are central to this system, ensuring that soil health, water management, and sustainable practices remain a priority. HACCP safeguards against potential food safety risks from orchard to packaging by identifying and controlling hazards at critical control points. In addition, IFS and BRCGS standards maintain strict hygiene procedures, quality management systems, and logistics protocols throughout storage and transportation. GRASP certification further supports ethical labor conditions, ensuring that workers are treated fairly and responsibly within the supply chain.
For Israel, Kosher certification is also applied to selected shipments, ensuring that these fruits meet specific dietary requirements without compromising freshness, safety, or quality. Each shipment is handled with attention to detail to ensure that certification requirements are met at every stage.
Together, these certifications mean that every apple and kiwi is grown, harvested, handled, packed, and transported under careful supervision, with full traceability from farm to fork. Selective hand-picking methods help maintain fruit quality, while temperature-controlled cold chain storage and climate-smart harvesting techniques protect both taste and shelf life during transit. According to studies among Israeli consumers, a significant proportion say they want to know the country of origin of their food; these systems provide the transparency and reassurance they seek.
Eco-friendly practices, including compost-based fertilization, water-efficient irrigation, and reduced pesticide use, align with EU sustainability goals and the increasing demand from consumers for environmentally responsible products. These efforts support long-term agricultural sustainability while maintaining premium fruit quality.
When shopping, look for “EU origin" on labels, certification logos, or QR codes that link directly to traceability and grower information, giving consumers confidence in both safety and quality.
Learn more at https://appleandkiwi.eu
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.