Consuming Seasons

On a travelled street, closer to home than the busy shops of downtown, a vegetable market recently opened. Now, 5 kilos of grapefruit or potatoes are a shorter distance from home.

Fruit and vegetables arrive in the west bank from Isreal and the Jordan Valley. The valley produces a continuous stream of high quality produce regardless of the season - since it is always warm at more than 300 metres below sea level.

The export production also results in a steady stream of produce for local markets as well. The trade between Palestine and Israel grants Ramallah access to specialty produce .

 

to which is added to the local Palestinian produce.

 Palestinian merchants take a lower profit margin and the less robust economy means lower costs for staff and rent. The result is  the ironic situation where Ramalla citizens can enjoy all the best produce of Isreal for significantly less cost than in Tel Aviv. 

Plus maybe even enjoy some of their own back yards production.