INTERNATIONAL CITRUS GROWER’S CONGRESS

We are accustomed to find famous personalities, interesting buildings, and beautiful landscapes represented on the stamps of many countries. But very few nations have so far made use of the millions of tiny messengers to publicise the products which they manufacture for the markets of the world.  France has given a lead in this respect by her beautiful series of five stamps issued in 1954 depicting her luxury industries.  A similar series has just been issued by Czechoslovakia showing that country’s traditional exports - glassware, textiles, jewellery, ceramics in addition to one value devoted to "Spa Publicity", displaying an attractive girl enjoying the curative hot springs of Piestany.

Israel’s productive potential has not yet been reflected on her postage stamps.  A first step in this direction has now been taken by the issue of the Jaffa Orange stamp appearing on the occasion of the Fourth International Congress of Mediterranean Citrus Growers held in Israel in May, 1956. Two of the world-renowned Jaffa oranges are seen on Israel’s latest stamp, together with one showing a sprig of the fragrant orange blossom which appears in spring, at the same time when the "Golden Apples" are being picked. (The Hebrew phrase for orange is "tapu’ah ha zahav which means "golden apple").

The earliest known date  Jaffa Oranges were seen in the United Kingdom seems to have been 1860 when a case of Shamouti Jaffas was sent as a present to Queen Victoria by the British Vice-Consul in Jaffa. However, it was not until 20 years later that Jaffa oranges were sent to England on a small scale as a commercial proposition. England still remains the main customer for the millions of crates of Jaffa oranges exported every year.

The citrus plantations in Israel are owned by individual growers and by settlements who cultivate their groves independently, but they all market their produce through the Citrus Marketing Board of Israel, the only organisation authorised to sell citrus both at home and abroad. Representatives of 12 countries took part in the Congress. These included Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece.

The purpose of the Congress, which met every two years since 1949, was to foster mutual understanding between members and provide a platform for the free discussion of ideas and the solution of problems common to citrus growers in the Mediterranean zone.

The stamp: a branch with "Jaffa" oranges grown in Israel; the tab reads "The Fourth International Congress of Mediterranean Citrus Grower-1956".