Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The Pomelo Orchard



pomelos at the store

I'm very fond of the pomelo fruit; it's sweet, friendly to the digestive system, and has many health benefits. I do like to eat pomelos; I have, however, little knowledge about the cultivation and harvesting of this fruit.

There's a pomelo orchard by the tiny road leading to our local cemetery. On the way back from my annual visit at  the cemetery, I approach the place with the intention to either buy or get permission from someone in charge, to pick a few pomelos. Never saw/heard anyone there on that specific day;  it was rather spooky.


the little road leading to the cemetery

the pomelo orchard

 As far as I know, the orchard  is owned  by a citrus  company  whose latest  proprietor is a famous magnate. The rumor has it  he has bought the company only due to promises that the agricultural lands (orchards) that belong to it will be turned into residential/industrial property. 


 the orchard

Despite strong denials coming from the company, I tend to believe that rumor. This seems to be the trend nowadays. There's no big money in agriculture; water and labor are expensive .On the other hand, flat soil is  attractive to construction,  there's a lot of money involved, and that's the way the rich get richer.

However, converting agricultural soil to residential use, might have bad general consequences : food price increase, loss of open, green spaces and more. The government shouldn't allow that to happen. 

Yesterday, before posting on the subject I went back to the orchard to  refresh my memory. After two previous days of heavy rain, the soil was soft and muddy. The trees were full of fruit whose skin color was deep yellow. not green as four months ago when I last saw them. There were also  lots of pomelos on the ground.


trees full of fruit



pomelos on the ground


Do have a look please at the surprise in the video from  Elifaz (kibbutz in the south of the country which has one of the best pomelo orchards).



54 comments:

  1. I really like pomelos, so tasty! Have a lovely day☺

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    1. What's not to like? Sweet and full of nutrients.

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  2. Maybe that hat will mark a whole new fashion trend! I don't think I have ever eaten pomelo and don't recall having seen it for sale here. It is a crying shame to take up more productive land for construction. How much of this poor Earth can we pave over? It must especially be an issue in a small country like Israel.

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    1. The pomelo is closely related to the grapefruit, but it's sweeter. You'll love it.
      The hat and a new fashion trend - that's a good one:)
      Let's hope, there will be "no crying shame" , no agricultural land will get sacrificed for construction purposes.

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  3. I don't think I have had pomelo, but then I read your comment that it is closely related to the grapefruit, just sweeter. I wonder if our stores carry it; I'll have to look. I do hope the orchard is not reduced to being more buildings; its sad when that happens.

    betty

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    1. It's an enjoyable fruit, worth looking for it in your local store.
      I definitely share your hope about the future of of the orchard.

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  4. fun video! Grapefruit conflicts with my blood pressure meds, but I have had pomelo. I probably shouldn't.

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    1. As far as I know pomelo has potassium which may help regulate blood pressure.
      Anyway, you could probably switch to a drug which isn't affected by pomelo, and enjoy eating the fruit.

      Delete
  5. I haven't had a pomelo in such a long time I had nearly forgotten they existed. You don't see them often here and in fact, I had mine in Europe. I think it's so very sad when they take an orchard/farm land and convert it to residential or another development. It seems we have enough of those already.

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    1. Well, it's time you look for it at your local store or market. You'll love it.
      Yes, sad indeed, to give up fertile soil for construction. Hopefully, this tendency will be stopped.

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  6. This fruit resembles grapefruit. I am fond of pink grapefruit which has a sweeter taste. I always learn some thing when I visit your blog.

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    1. Indeed. Grapefruit is created by crossing pomelo with orange. They have more or less the same compounds.
      Thank you for your last remark.

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  7. Wow the fruit is huge. What a shame that is doen't get picked and that they fall on the floor. I have never heard of this fruit.
    Here in NZ there is also lot of money in the property market. It often gets bought for investment purposes. The prices are driven up and many people can't afford housing anymore. They also only build expensive houses hardly any cheap ones and hardly any social housing. It's all about money

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    1. Pomelo is the largest citrus fruit. In fact, the skin is huge, the inner fruit itself is small to medium size.

      NZ too?! money invested in property market? It's as a previous commenter said "a crying shame".

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  8. That was such a fun video! We need a giggle.
    I've never heard of this fruit. Thanks for the interesting post. We're so frozen this week. It's great to see growing things!

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    1. The guy in the video is quite good at peeling the pomelo!
      I'm glad you had the chance to see this fruit mentioned in my post. I hope you'll find it on your markets and try it. It's delicious!

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  9. Very nice post Duta!! And yes, such a fun video!! Is a pomelo the same as a "Sweetie"? I just bought a "Sweetie" from the supermarket here in Japan! Its from Israel, and it looks like a Pomelo!! I hope they keep the field as a citrus field. And keep growing more and more fruit in the Land of Israel!! Blessings

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    1. Thank you, Shayndel.
      Yes, yes - sweetie. That's the name for the exported pomelos. I saw it on the label of Jaffa pomelos. Jaffa brand is the best. Enjoy it!

      Thanks for the blessings.

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  10. I love fruit...all fruit and I eat a lot of fruit...daily. I love citrus fruit of all varieties...but I've never had a pomelo, which I gather, are very similar, although larger, than grapefruit. I love grapefruit.

    I'll have to keep an eye out for them in the local shops here where I live. Pomelos, native to south-east Asia, are relatively unknown in Australia. No doubt, over time they will become more popular.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Citrus fruits (grapefruit, pomelo, orange, clementine, mandarine) are among the healthiest fruits on earth.
      Do keep an eye out for the pomelos in your local stores! It's a good, sweet fruit.

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  11. Thanks Duta! Amazing! I am having a real Jaffa "Sweetie" Pomelo from Israel this morning in Japan!! Is the orchard in your pictures from Jaffa?? Could this Sweetie be from there!? Anyway its close!! I'm Happy !! Praise God!!

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    1. Jaffa brand (the name Jaffa comes from the city port of Jaffa, not the name of an orchard) is the best quality, as it's intended mainly for export. I've got some from the store with the label Jaffa and Sweety on them.
      As far as I know, these are not from my local orchard displayed in my pictures, but my local ones also taste good. Anyway, enjoy the fruit!

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  12. Great post, I follow you on gfc # 391 ,follow back? :))

    https://lovefashionyes.blogspot.com/

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  13. Love this post, DUTA. I have never heard of a fruit called pomelo before, but it does look a lot like a grapefruit. I'm curious about these, now, so I'm going to research this fruit. That orchard in the video looked so beautiful, with that water as a backdrop. If it was hot out, I'm sure that man's "hat" cooled him off, lol.

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    1. I think the export name of our pomelo is Sweetie. The fruit has a label with the above name, so it won't be difficult to look for it.
      Perhaps your country imports pomelos from Mexico or asian countries.

      The place in the video (Elifaz)is located in the desert, at the far south of Israel. Its pomelo orchard is one of the best.

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  14. I've never eaten a pumelo. Now, I'm curious. But, I am eating delicious fruit in Belize. Papaya and star fruit, etc...

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    1. There's always a first time...You'll try the fruit and you'll like it.
      In the meantime, enjoy Belize and its fruit!

      Delete
  15. Yes, its a delicious fruit I started eating after coming to Canada.

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    1. Hi Balvinder. Glad you like it too.
      It is indeed a delicious fruit.

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  16. Replies
    1. Join the club, Mary! I totally agree with you - they taste good.

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  17. You remind me of this amazing fruit and the film reminds me of the oranges of the 60's with thick פקקך and
    so juicy.
    In the past we were The Land of Oranges and now we mostly import them

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    1. You are right, Rodica. We used to be the Land of Oranges in the 60's and 70's. Now we've become importers rather than exporters. Sad, but true.

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  18. Like others who commented, Duta, I too have never heard of or sampled a pomelo fruit. After reading you reply that it resembled and watching the video I can see that it does with a very think rind, also useful for a hat it seems. I am not a huge fan of grapefruit, but I will check the produce department at a local supermarket and if pomelos are available I will buy and try one. I also learn many new things from your posts.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm also not a great fan of grapefruit as the citrus acid in it makes it taste sour. Pomelo,on the other hand, should be sweet.
      Anyway, if the pomelos are available at the supermarket, try one. Nothing to lose.

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  19. It is so sad when orchard transform to buildings. I remember how people in some part of Scandinavia countries enjoyed and proud about the kinds of sweet small orange from Israel about 25 years ago.
    I like pomelo; it is much better than grapefruit

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    1. Yes, Evi, it is kind of sad to convert fertile soil to building sites. Let's hope this tendency will be stopped by the right authorities.
      I definitely agree with the last sentence of your comment.

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  20. Sad to see good food going to waste, and the land being built on, all for the sake of someone getting richer than what they already are.

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    1. You've perfectly summed up the problem in just one sentence: good food scattered on the ground, good, fertile soil victim of construction intentions.

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  21. This is a really interesting post. It is very informative. Thank you for sharing such a thought provoking article. This is good to know.

    Wishing you all the best!

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    1. Thank you for reading and leaving your comment. I'm glad you think the post is informative and thought provoking.

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  22. They are often now in our supermarkets, I must buy tchem more often esp. in the wintertime when there are no many fruit options

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    1. Hi Ola, good to hear from you.
      Yes, now is the season and you can find them at the supermarket. Indeed, in winter our fruit options are limited.

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  23. I never tried pomelo but after visiting your post I'm now open to doing so. Looking at them, I would have assumed that they were tart like a grapefruit. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Well, I'm glad you've decided to give it a try. Yes, it's kind of confusing as the pomelo and the grapefruit look rather alike.

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  24. "...the agricultural lands (orchards) that belong to it will be turned into residential/industrial property."

    I hope that is not true.

    There's a verse in the bible that talks about Israel blooming and filling the whole world with fruit.

    "In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit." -Isaiah 27:6

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    1. The biblical verse is beautiful! Hopefully, this will be the case and not
      cement and concrete.

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  25. Now that's an original hat, looked pretty good on him! I'm not crazy about fruit, but really love grapefruit and I see above that you say pomelo is similar to that. I'd like it for sure! Unfortunately, I've never seen it here nor even heard of it. But I'm going to pay close attention at the markets now and hope to find it. Good post1, thanks, Duta!

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    1. Original hat, indeed :)
      I'm crazy about certain fruits, not citrus fruit, though, but I do love pomelos.
      Thank you.

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  26. Well I've learnt something new (always good in my book). Had only vaguely heard of Pomelos. They're larger (seeing them being handled and then worn lol).
    They ones you've shown up close look perfect! Enjoy xx

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    1. Hi Sue,
      Hope things are better now in Australia.
      The pomelo 9 the smaller in size are called pomelito) is the largest citrus fruit. It's in season now, and people enjoy buying and eating it in our part of the world.

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  27. Like many others who have commented, I too have never heard of or sampled a pomelo fruit. I must look out for some.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Yes, you must : pomelo or pomelito. Abroa, I'm told, it's called Sweetie. Quite a delicious fruit!

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