Seasonal Fruit: To Buy or Not to Buy

Shmita 2007 For religious Jews, the period known as Shmita is something that is more than just an inconvenience. It is a commandment by God to “let the land lie fallow, and to not eat the fruits thereof”. Occurring every seven years, observant Jews must not eat either fruits, vegetables, or grains grown in fields owned and farmed by Jewish farmers. The idea for this commandment, given to Moses by God during the wanderings of the Children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai, was to preserve the fruitfulness of the earth by letting it “rest” for an entire year.

In modern times, however, this biblical commandment has must less relevance to many, especially non-observant Jews who for the most part aren’t even aware of anything different going on. Religious Jews in Israel, however, are very much aware of a “Shmita year”, and have to make arrangements to purchase the agricultural produce of non-Jews; or produce which is imported into Israel that has been certified as being grown by non-Jews. Since the creation of the State of Israel, producers and sellers of agricultural produce have made agreements with each other known as heter michira which means to sell the items in a round about way or “loophole”. On of the major ways farmers have to deal with this matter is to “sell” their lands and framing equipment to a non-Jew. As the non-Jew becomes the “owner”, the farmers can say they are actually working for him, thus being able to farm and market the produce in a manner that will be acceptable for purchase by religious Jews.

This procedure is not acceptable among many people, however, especially Ultra-Orthodox Jews. For them, the exact biblical commandment must be followed. So, in order not have to live on stored or preserved produce, very religious Jews have to find other ways to satisfy God’s Commandment within their own religious doctrines.
Many Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel have purchased agricultural produce from Arab, Druze and other non-Jewish farmers. Under this system, the produce was brought in by these farmers, much of it from both Gaza and the West Bank. Recent political and security realities have prevented much of this produce from reaching markets in Israel, resulting on produce having to be imported in from other countries.

Jewish farmers who are Shmita observant do not abide by the “loophole” or “heter michira” and actually cease from working their fields during the entire schmita year. In the old days, when modern farming methods and fertilizers were not available, letting the “land lie fallow” every seven years was a good idea, It gave the land time to “recoup” its growing ability naturally, including replenishment of vital soil nutrients. As we are now in a “Shmita year” which began at the beginning of the Rosh Hashonah holiday, one would hardly notice this as all the major supermarkets and greengrocers appear to be engaged in “business as usual”. Since all but one of the major supermarket chains are kosher, and display a kashrut certificate, the only logical explanation is the observance of the “heter michra” loophole, as well as some importing of farm produce from abroad. This seems to satisfy most people, including many religious Jews who seem content to purchase from these chains.

While some Ultra-Orthodox or Haredi Jews still do not find the “heter michira” agreements to their liking, most others do and as a result there is no shortage of agricultural produce during this Shmita year.

From my standpoint, an apple’s an apple.

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