[Avodah] Orla

[Arie Folger]

Reb "A & C" Walters asked:
> This is halachically fine for vegetables, but what about fruit?!? What
> about orla? Not only is orla the hardest thing to give hashkocho on
> (according to Mashgicim in the Eida Chareidis), but since orla cannot be
> sold here, because even the Rabinut won't give a hechsher, to generally it
> is exported. So apart from the halocho of sofek orla bEY lechumra, in
> metzius a lot of it is, l"a probably vadai orla?

Since I once checked that one out for our kehillah, I am pleased to report: it 
depends. First of all, vegetables (the quote you included from the OU speaks 
specifically about peppers) are not subject to 'orlah. However, even among 
fruits, the problem isn't accross the board. Some trees do not give fruit so 
soon, so there is essentially no problem. Example: citrus fruits.

OTOH, there are other species where agricultural techniques create a lot of 
fruit bearing 'orlah plants, and in the case of such fruits, one needs to 
worry about 'orlah. Example: grapes, prunes.

The export department of the Rabbanut haRashit keeps a list of the different 
species for which one should worry about 'orlah.

KT,
-- 
Arie Folger
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com