In Israel, Beit Hashita is synonymous
with agriculture, working the largest tract of cultivated land in
Israel, over 10,000 acres. During the early years of Beit Hashita,
the fields were virgin and the methods were simple, and most
kibbutz labor was put into highly work intensive vegetable field
and cereal crops.
Thus, the kibbutz's initial agricultural development focused on turning agriculture into an efficient, profitable venture. An early success in this area was the introduction of olive groves, which transformed a local crop into a prominent money maker. In those times, the entire community depended on success in the fields, and children and adults worked together to reach this goal.
Beit Hashita took a giant step forward for Israeli
agriculture when it introduced cotton into Israeli agriculture
during the mid 50's. Cotton soon became most profitable cash crop
in Israel, causing a revolution in local agriculture.
Along with a revolution in agriculture had to come a revolution in technology, especially when taking into account the tough farming conditions existing in Israel. Technology attacked the challenges of cultivation, dry-land irrigation and harvest, and tested man's ability to grow fruit and crops where none had grown before. Israel has continually met its agricultural challenges and Beit Hashita has continually been among the leaders of the field, helping to breed new high-yield cotton strains, developing new agricultural equipment (through BHC Mfg. Co.), and trying new systems in order to improve the old. For example, the highest yielding wheat strain in Israel today is called "Beit Hashita".
Vegetable were always a major field crops, and the young kibbutz farmers obtained the maximum production possible through hard work and learning from year to year. When agricultural exports to Europe took off in the late 1960's, Beit Hashita found its niche growing Israeli early ripening sweet melon and for almost tens years the Kibbutz was one of the market's most prominent growers. During this period of time, many "Volunteers" came as groups and individuals to work on the kibbutz. They carry this experience, as well as the friends they made, with them until today.
During the early 1970's, Beit Hashita searched for a crop that would have an advantage in Israel's Mediterranean climate, could be processed in its existing processing plant, and would have an international demand that would ensure a successful entrance into the market place. It was determined that silverskin onions was the perfect crop, and thus a new chapter in Beit Hashita's agricultural development began. Today, over 5,000 tons of high-quality silverskin onions are being produced annually, capturing a respectable share of the international market (see the section on Gilboa Beit Hashita Olives).
Today, the agricultural sector of the kibbutz grows
a wide-variety of field crops on over 2000 acres of land. Crops
include wheat, oats, safflower, sunflower seeds cotton, tomatoes,
silverskin onions, beans, chickpeas and watermelons. Beit Hashita
also has 300 acres of citrus groves, which grow yellow and pink
grapefruits, mineola, and pomelit which are sorted and packed in
the regional packing house located at the co-operative just down
the road from the kibbutz. Most of Beit Hashita's agricultural
produce is exported to markets in Europe and the United States.
The Beit Hashita Tree Center, is a modern nursery growing ornamental trees and shrubs for municipalities and landscapers. The nursery is a source of the latest information and know-how and is in continuous contact with other sources world-wide, in a constant effort to be at the forefront of the industry.
Beit Hashita also has livestock! The kibbutz raises over 2000 head of beef cattle that graze on the hilly non-cultivated land to the east of the kibbutz. The Gilboa Mountain is also the grazing land for a good part of the herd, offering a picturesque view of the countryside for the cattlemen. Beit Hashita also has an automated modern dairy with 450 head of high milk producing cows. The cows are milked three times a day with much of the work being done by high school kids. These cows are some of the highest milk producers in the country. Both the beef cattle and the dairy utilize Beit Hashita's field sector providing feed and silage.
Send your comments or inquiries to our e-mail address: info@bethashita.org.il
This page is maintained by Joe Rein.