Feb 9, 2012
The Israeli Watermelon-Plum
The Marker has more information about some new Israeli technological advancements in the fruit industry. I don't mean fruit like Apple computers, but fruit and vegetables.
A couple weeks ago we heard about black tomatoes, rainbow carrots and red lemons, and today we have even more!
the latest include 3 types of plums that are engineered so the fruit inside of each is really either a watermelon, a pomegranate or a lemon. Another is the Tomasio, which is similar to a raisin but made from a tomato.
The entire fruit and veggies industry is changing before our very eyes, and Israel is leading the way!
A couple weeks ago we heard about black tomatoes, rainbow carrots and red lemons, and today we have even more!
the latest include 3 types of plums that are engineered so the fruit inside of each is really either a watermelon, a pomegranate or a lemon. Another is the Tomasio, which is similar to a raisin but made from a tomato.
The entire fruit and veggies industry is changing before our very eyes, and Israel is leading the way!
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Rafi - you definitely have more access to Rabbis who would know this stuff than I do, so I'll ask it here:
ReplyDeleteIs there a halachik problem with this kind of stuff (i.e. kilayim)? I assume there's not a problem with eating it (except if it's a cross between a watermelon and a plum, you might not know which bracha to make), but what about with creating it?
And if so, is this the kind of thing we should be proud of? On the one hand, it's very nice that we're leading the world in (yet another) area, but does it go against our Jewish sensitivities?
good question. I hadnt thought of that. interesting. I dont know how they are creating these things. Are they combining seeds? grafting things together? I have no idea. to ask the question one would need to know the basics of the process.
ReplyDeletethey use gene splicing.
ReplyDeleteThey take the genes of one and replace sections of the other fruit's gene.
I think
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between a Tamasio and a Sun Dried tommato??
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fruit is the Pluot. It's a mixter of Plums and Apricots which is really very juicy and delicious to eat, and much less sour than bad plums.
They are sold in the US with an OU hescher on them.
In general, one is allowed to eat and buy the result of Kilayim but not allowed to do it themselves. (even if a Jew does it I believe, not sure) On the other hand, I imagine that the way they create these new things isn't Kilayim, but maybe it is.
Personally, I have an aversion to people finding ways to bypass or ignore an entire Tractate of Mishna, as if its something not to worry about.
anon - from what i understand, it grows like that. its not picked and dried but grows that way. It says in the article it can be eaten fresh or dried.
ReplyDelete"anon - from what i understand, it grows like that. "
ReplyDeleteFreaky.. are they going to make raisins that grow as raisins as well?