Kilo-Meter Gourd
Farmers at Ein Yahav Grew Giant Gourds a meter in length and weighing up to 40 kg.
the farmers rami sadeh and shoni gal put their accomplishment down to several factors such as the excellent climatic conditions in southern israel’s arava region and the special irrigation system there. unlike the common gourds these enormous vegetables have no internal air pockets resulting in their especially heavy weight.
the huge gourds can fetch a price of over 100 nis and the public do not buy them directly but purchase packaged slices at their local supermarket or convenience store, after the gourds have been cut up and wrapped. rami sadeh who is the agronomist for ein yahav’s “beauty of vegetables” farmers association plans to build on this success and expand the growth of gigantic gourds next year, as part of the development of new vegetable varieties for which a strong consumer demand exists. rami sadeh noted the experienced gained by the ein yahav’s farmers in cultivating distinctive vegetables, and only last year they managed to produce the world’s largest pepper, which weighed about 600 grams.
