Gifts That Support Israeli Farmers — South & North, After October 7
A gift that supports Israeli farmers is a box of kosher food, honey and wine bought directly from growers in the Gaza-border south and the Galilee & Golan north — where 60% of every purchase goes straight back to the producers. Unlike a donation, you send a real, giftable box and the farmer keeps their business running. If you are weighing the options, our guide on where to buy Israeli gifts that support real producers compares them side by side.
Hibuk Otef — The Story Behind Every Gift
Hibuk Otef (“Enveloping Embrace”) is a unique boutique gift initiative that brings together products from the communities of the Gaza Envelope and Israel’s southern and northern frontier, alongside works of art that commemorate the beauty of the region. The project was founded to support local producers, farmers and entrepreneurs who were affected. 60% of revenues go directly to producers from the affected communities.
A gift, not a donation: how it actually helps farmers
The most direct way to help a farmer hit on and after October 7 is to buy what they grow. When you send one of our boxes, roughly 60% of the revenue is paid to the producer for real product — honey, wine, olive oil, spreads — rather than routed through an anonymous appeal. That keeps a vineyard, apiary or olive press operating through a season it might not otherwise survive, and it delivers a kosher gift the recipient actually opens and enjoys. Farm recovery is slow work: in the north alone, growers are trying to replant an estimated 550,000 fruit trees and 32,000 grapevines, and an orchard needs seven to nine years to reach full production. A recurring order for product does more for that timeline than a one-time handout.
Look for three things in any “supportive” gift: a named producer (not a vague “local” label), a defined community that benefits, and a stated share of revenue. A gift that can’t answer all three is a marketing gesture, not real support. For the full breakdown, see how the giving model works.
Farmers in the south — the Otef (Gaza Envelope)
The Gaza Envelope was the agricultural backbone of Israel before October 7, 2023 — its kibbutzim and moshavim grow a large share of the country’s vegetables, citrus and honey. Communities like Be’eri, Kfar Aza and the fields around Kibbutz Erez were directly attacked, and many growers lost a full season while staff were displaced. Buying their product now is how those farms rebuild.
Nahal Gerar Winery (Ein HaBesor). A boutique winery on Gaza-border farmland whose vineyards sit in the heart of the Otef — exactly the area targeted on October 7. Its wines carry the taste of the western Negev into every box.
Erez Apiary (Kibbutz Erez). One of the veteran apiaries of the Gaza Envelope, producing raw honey at a kibbutz right on the border. Its honey anchors several of our holiday boxes and is a favourite for Rosh Hashanah. For the wider picture, read gifts that support October 7 survivors.
Farmers in the north — Galilee & Golan (the Lebanon war)
Almost no “support Israel” shop serves the north, and that is the biggest gap. Nineteen kibbutzim were evacuated along the Lebanese border — fourteen in the Upper Galilee and five in the Western Galilee — and residents were displaced for roughly 16 months. Today about 88% of kibbutz members have returned, but in border towns like Metula only around 40% are back, and farmers are still working avocado groves and vineyards under the threat of rocket fire. Every northern box you send is a vote of confidence in a region rebuilding under pressure.
Ayelet HaShachar Honey (Upper Galilee). Honey from a historic Galilee kibbutz near the Lebanese border — part of the region evacuated during the war in the north, and a frontier most “support Israel” shops overlook.
Har Odem (Golan) & Peki’in (Galilee). Cool-climate wine from Har Odem on the Golan Heights and olive products from the Druze village of Peki’in round out the northern side of the box. To go deeper on this region, see our guide to Galilee & Golan gift boxes.
Meet the makers behind the boxes
Every box names its makers on a printed card, so the recipient sees exactly whom the gift helped — the opposite of an anonymous “proceeds” label.
- Nahal Gerar Winery — Gaza-border boutique wines from Ein HaBesor.
- Erez Apiary — raw kibbutz honey from the Otef.
- Ayelet HaShachar — Upper-Galilee honey from an evacuated frontier kibbutz.
- Har Odem Winery — high-altitude Golan reds and whites.
- Peki’in — Galilee olive oil and spreads from a Druze farming village.
- Moshav Manot — western-Galilee boutique goods from a community near the border.
A fuller roster with each maker’s story is on our meet the makers page.
Choose by budget — boxes that support farmers
Five real boxes that put money into growers’ hands, from the most affordable to the most generous. You can order any quantity — a single box or a corporate order of hundreds — and every one carries the same 60%-to-producers split.
1. Liraz Token Box — ₪71
A small but real gesture: honey and a sweet treat from named producers. The most affordable way to put money directly into the hands of growers in the south and north. View this box.
2. Dvir Box — ₪85
A Galilee-focused box of honey, spreads and treats from northern producers — many of whom kept working through the evacuations along the Lebanese border.
3. Ayelet Festive Box — ₪139
A festive box that spans both frontiers: a southern Otef liqueur and artwork alongside Galilee honey — a gift that literally carries the south and the north together. View this box.
4. All the Best from the North — ₪224
The premium northern box: a fuller tasting selection including Golan wine, for when you want the gift itself to make a statement about where it came from. View this box.
5. Aner Signature Box — ₪330
Our most generous box — a curated spread of wine, honey, olive oil and artisan treats from across the affected communities, ideal as a corporate or milestone gift that supports the most farmers at once.
How much of your money reaches the farmers
About 60% of the price of every box goes directly to producers from the affected communities in the south and north. The remaining share covers the product itself, packaging, the art card and nationwide delivery — there is no hidden cut routed elsewhere. Inside each box is a card explaining the project and naming the makers, so the person who receives the gift sees exactly whom it helped. That transparent, producer-first split is the difference between a gift that supports farmers and a basket that merely says it does.
When to order and how delivery works
We deliver across Israel in about seven business days, and there are no customs or duties for the recipient because the gift ships locally from within Israel — a real advantage over importing a box from abroad. Prices are shown in shekels and include 18% VAT for private orders. If you are sending for the holidays, plan ahead: Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins the evening of Friday, 11 September, so order by early September to arrive in time. See send Rosh Hashanah gifts to Israel for the seasonal boxes and timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a gift actually support Israeli farmers?
Because the products are bought directly from named growers, and a defined share of revenue returns to them: about 60% of each box goes to producers from the affected communities. It is a purchase that sustains a business, not an anonymous one-off donation.
Which farmers do you support — the south or the north?
Both. We work with producers from the Gaza-border south (the “Otef”) and from the northern frontier — the Galilee and Golan — communities affected by the war along the Lebanese border, which most “support Israel” shops overlook.
Are these real, named producers?
Yes. Examples include Nahal Gerar Winery in Ein HaBesor, the Erez kibbutz apiary in the south, and Ayelet HaShachar honey in the Upper Galilee. Every box names the makers behind it on a printed card.
Can I send the gift to someone in Israel or abroad?
Both. We deliver across Israel — including harder-to-reach communities — in about seven business days with no customs for the recipient, and we can ship a taste of Israel abroad to the United States, the UK and beyond.
Are the products kosher?
Yes. Every product is kosher under local rabbinate supervision, and most are Badatz.
How to Order
Want to send a gift that supports Israeli farmers? Order on our website, message us on WhatsApp at 054-2207955, or email us.
Written by Neta Lin Cohen — founder of Hibuk Otef, architect and Bezalel graduate, with 30+ years of experience in culinary gifting.