Israel to Import Grapes from Peru to Cover Winter Shortages

Jerusalem, 11 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security announced that it is now possible to import grapes from Peru. The grapes join the blueberries already imported from this country. The approval was given after a review of a pest risk assessment, which was conducted by the professional bodies in the Plant Protection and Inspection Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and in cooperation with the Plant Protection Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture in Peru.

The agreements between the countries to implement the import of grapes into Israel are part of a broad process led by the Plant Protection and Inspection Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. As part of this process, the ministry is working to diversify the sources of imports in order to increase competition in the fruit and vegetable market. Meanwhile, in the past three years, the Plant Protection and Inspection Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have approved 15 types of fruits and vegetables for import from 16 countries of origin, such as: kiwi from Greece, melon from Spain, tomatoes, cucumbers and blueberries from a variety of different sources, and more.

Since the beginning of the war, approximately 15,000 tons of grapes have been imported to Israel from South Africa alone. This import takes place during the winter months, when there is no local production but demand exists, and the only source of import that was approved until now is South Africa. The new source allows for competition between import sources during the winter months.