Israel's vegetable prices soar while relations between Turkey and Jordan are strained: What we know

According to Israeli media reports, fruit and vegetable prices have been rising in Israel for several months after Turkey suspended trade with the country because of its role in the Gaza war and a dispute broke out between the Israeli and Jordanian governments over cholera allegedly detected in Jordanian waters.

On May 2, the Turkish Ministry of Trade suspended trade with Israel “until humanitarian aid is allowed into the Gaza Strip without restrictions.”

Israel relies primarily on domestically grown fruits and vegetables, although it also imports some products, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and onions. Israel has at times increased fruit and vegetable imports to increase supply and reduce prices, with mixed success due to other pressures on Israel's food security. Since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, Israel has experienced greater food insecurity due to labor shortages, as Israeli military reservists were called up and foreign workers left the country, causing prices to rise.

Trade between Israel and Turkey amounted to $7 billion in 2023, the majority of which will be building materials and fossil fuels. Turkey and Jordan are the largest exporters of fruits and vegetables to Israel, according to the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. In 2022, Israel imported $11.4 million worth of vegetables from Turkey and $8.8 million from Jordan, according to the ministry.