As Israelis prepare to welcome a new Jewish year with the traditional family meal, the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry has released new figures on our culinary preferences.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
According to the data, every Israeli eats about 345 grams (12 ounces ) of fish every week, but during the Rosh Hashanah period this almost doubles.
Fresh fish account for almost 30% of the fish consumed during the holiday, compared to about 25% during other times of the year. The most popular fish during the High Holy Days, according to the retailers, are tilapia and salmon, which account for 36% each. Sea bream is second, accounting for about 5%, and then carp, with 4%.
Israelis consume about 19.6 kg (43 lb) of beef per person each year. Some 40% is from livestock slaughtered in Israel. During the week just before Rosh Hashanah, demand for beef spikes by about 84%, according to supermarket chains.
Israelis eat about 65 kg (143 lb) of chicken each year, which is a world record. In the US, which is ranked second, people eat only about half the amount each year. The global average stands at roughly 15 kg per person (33 lb). Israel's poultry farms in Israel has some 500 employees on site. Sales of poultry products usually go up by 57% in the days leading up to the holiday.
As for pomegranate, which has become one of the symbols of Rosh Hashanah, it is in high demand in the final week of the Jewish year, seeing a 15% increase in sales. Each year, Israelis buy some 45,000 tons (99 million lb) of the fruit, consuming about 5.4 kg (11 lb) per person each year. This includes juice and other derivatives.
Israelis consume about 5.6 liters of wine each year (190 oz), which is relatively low compared to other countries, especially in Europe and the US. In France, for example, each person drinks 46 liters (1555 oz). Israelis do not have a clear preference when it comes to red vs. white wine, each having a roughly 50% stake in the overall consumption. That said, white wine has become increasingly popular in recent years, as has sparkling wine. Some 70% of vineyards in Israel grow grapes for red wine, with the most popular being Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Merlot
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
