Should we be concerned that Israeli imported fruit is orlah?

Answer

Orlah fruit grown in Israel that is subsequently exported retains its forbidden status.

When I served as a community rabbi in Warsaw, we saw avocados imported from Israel in the supermarket. I told my wife that I was concerned it might be orlah, reasoning that since it is forbidden for sale in Israel, it was exported abroad. I recently researched the matter extensively, contacting officials in Israel's chief rabbinate, and it turns out that I was needlessly stringent.

Fruit exported abroad generally goes through major packaging houses, which are under the Chief Rabbinate's strict supervision.

Those who export produce abroad are farmers with extensive farmland who are under the Chief Rabbinate's supervision for orlah. For this reason, the chance that orlah fruit would be exported is slim. Note that with regard to terumot and ma'aserot for exported goods, the situation is different, so terumot and ma'aserot should be set aside from exports without a blessing.