Ma'anit Explained

Ma'anit
Foundation:1942
Founded By:Czechoslovak and Polish Hashomer Hatzair members
Council:Menashe
District:haifa
Affiliation:Kibbutz Movement
Pushpin Map:Israel haifa
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Label Position:top
Coordinates:32.45°N 35.0333°W

Ma'anit is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located just south of the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur, it falls under the jurisdiction of Menashe Regional Council. In it had a population of .

History

The kibbutz was established in 1942 by members of the Hashomer Hatzair movement who fled from Czechoslovakia and Poland, with some arriving during Aliyah Bet, during Nazi persecution. Its name refers to the first furrow ploughed in a field. The analogy was presented in Avraham Herzfeld's speech about settlement in the area: He saw the establishment of the kibbutz as being the first of many. Due to its location near Wadi Ara, the kibbutz was on the front line during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and was attacked by the Iraqi Army.

Economy

Galam Ltd., a company that produces starch and glucose for the food industry, is based in Kibbutz Ma'anit. In 2010, Galam recorded annual sales of $137.6 million, half of it from export. After developing a new natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant, the company signed a contract with Corn Products International, which grows and processes stevia in South Africa.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3975111,00.html Israeli company develops new natural sweetener