VZCZCXRO2066
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2567 3481308
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141308Z DEC 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0028
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002567
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NEA/IPA FOR BELGRADE/PECCIA; NSC FOR PASCUAL
PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR MCCLOUD/RAGLAND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: GAZA: STRAWBERRY EXPORTS LIMITED, CARNATIONS
CONTINUE
REF: JERUSALEM 2322
1. (SBU) Summary: Strawberries exported from Gaza this
harvest have been of lower quality that previous years,
reportedly as a result of the lack of fertilizer and poor
handling procedures at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Gaza
farmers continue to export cut carnation flowers, but have
not been able to export bell peppers and tomatoes this
harvest season, most of which have gone to waste. End
summary.
Strawberries Limited; Flowers Still Moving
------------------------------------------
2. (SBU) Gaza-based USG contractors told Econoff that six
truckloads of strawberries were shipped through Kerem Shalom
crossing on December 13, the first such shipments since
December 6. Gaza strawberry exports, which had begun on
November 28 (reftel), were halted December 7-12 following a
refusal by the marketing company to purchase additional
shipments. The marketing company had reported that 50
percent of the strawberries purchased from Gaza were spoiling
prior to delivery to points of sale in Europe.
3. (SBU) ConGen contacts believe that the strawberries'
quality problems are a result of a lack of fertilizer,
pesticides, and greenhouse supplies due to restrictions on
imports into Gaza, as well as the transfer system at Kerem
Shalom crossing, where shipments remain un-refrigerated for
up to eight hours. Gaza's 250 strawberry farmers earned
approximately USD 325,000 from exports over the November 28 -
December 6 period. (By comparison, the last strawberry
harvest totaled USD eight million in export sales.)
4. (SBU) Gaza farmers have exported roughly 1.4 million cut
carnations, valued at USD 120,000, from Kerem Shalom crossing
since November 28. According to Gaza-based contacts, the
flowers require less fertilizer than the strawberries and are
better able to withstand the crossing than strawberries due
to their packaging.
Most Bell Peppers and Tomatoes Go To Waste
------------------------------------------
5. (SBU) There have been no shipments out of Gaza of bell
peppers, cherry tomatoes, or sweet tomatoes this harvest.
USG contractors in Gaza report that some peppers and tomatoes
have been sold in Gaza for minimal prices, but that roughly
90 percent of this year's harvest has spoiled.
WALLES