For the first time ever, a shipment of 1,000 esrogim arrived in Eretz Yisrael from Italy. Usually, citrus fruit (pri hadar)  is not imported due to the abundance in Israel. As we have just completed a shmitah year, the difficulties involved resulted in a permit being issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The regular demand for arba minim (four species used on the Sukkos holiday) in Eretz Yisrael is one million sets and an additional 300,000 esrogim are usually sent abroad.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)