and cultivation of the orange and grapefruit have been brought in Palestine is due to the scientific methods of the Jewish agriculturist." Partnerships in growing and exporting these oranges were an example of Arab-Jewish cooperation despite rising political tensions. By the end of 1928, Jews had acquired 30,000 dunams of the regions 60,000 dunams of orange orchards. Whereas before World War I, the price of a dunam of land in a fruitful orange grove was 50-75 pounds sterling, by 1929, the same groves were selling for 150-200 pounds sterling. In 1933, Jewish-owned orange production overtook Arab-owned orange production. By 1939, Jewish-owned and Arab-owned orange orchards in Palestine covered , employed over 100,000 workers, and their produce was a primary export. During World War II (1939–1945) citrus-growing declined, and Arab-owned orange production overtook Jewish-owned production. After the 1948 war, most of the Palestinian Arab-owned orange groves were taken over by the new Israeli state. The orange-growing industry was presented as a "pioneering Labor-movement project" which was "void of any Arab presence". Legacy Jaffa oranges are harvested in the Israel and the Palestinian territories between November and March, with the marketing season beginning in September and extending through April. More than half the annual crop is exported, and Israel is the main provider of other citrus fruits to the European Union. In the 1950s and 1960s, Jaffa oranges became emblems of the Israeli state. A general decline in the importance of agriculture to the Israeli economy, extreme limits on available water resources, and the reliance on migrant laborers have reduced productivity. Overshadowed by manufacturing industries, such as diamonds and precision instruments, Israel nonetheless continues to export a large number of citrus fruits to Europe. The Jaffa orange is also known for lending the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo the nickname "Big Orange". See also Jaffas Jaffa Cakes References Bibliography External links Orange Varieties 120 Years of Citrus in Israel An orange Israeli icon turns green Agriculture in Israel Crops originating from Asia Flora of Western Asia History of Palestine (region) Israeli brands Orange cultivars Products of Israel Jaffa