The Salad Trail in the Negev encourages visitors to get a feel for the land and its produce. Can you name 15 varieties of cherry tomatoes? What about four types of carrots? Have you ever tasted an Uri Kaduri orange? And do you know the difference between the seven varieties of mint leaves? A three-hour visit to the Salad Trail, a unique touch-and-taste farm in the Hevel Habesor region of the northern Negev, will turn you into an expert grower for the day.

Pick-your-own produce farms are commonplace. But agronomist Uri Alon has upped the ante with his complete senses-and-learning experience at his farm in the northern Negev. “If you want to see how the real vegetables grow, and taste the best vegetables in the world, that’s reason enough to come visit,” Alon, the brainchild of this blossoming oasis in the middle of the sandy desert, tells ISRAEL21c. “If you want to see the real Israel and see how you can take a desert and change it and make it bloom, it’s enough reason to drive 1.5 hours from Tel Aviv.”

Alon, who grew up in Rehovot and always dreamed of being a farmer, started the Salad Trail 11 years ago and says it is unique in Israel for its range of produce and educational component. “This is the only farm with a professional tour,” he says. “It’s not only about coming here to pick vegetables but also to understand how they grow, learn about the environment and understand the agricultural innovations and technologies.” Each year, some 45,000 people – mostly tourists – make the trip out to Moshav Talmei Yosef, where his farm is located, to roam the fields, pick, touch, taste and learn about the crops they eat. (via Israel21c)

[Photo:  / YouTube ]