Yerevan, Armenia – In the small former Soviet republic of Armenia, now an independent country, the Jewish community numbers only a few hundred people. Nevertheless, local Jews enjoy a rich selection of various kosher food and food related products, which are not only for local consumption, but also intended for export to outside markets.
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Armenia began to export kosher products in 2003 when they exported kosher aluminum foil to the United States. In 2004-2006, two more food producers – a cannery and a beer brewery – began to export a wide range of kosher canned vegetables, beer and lemonade to Israel, France and the United States.
In 2010, the Orthodox Union certified two manufacturers whose products – pomegranate wine, natural juices, pomegranate and apricot vodka, and fruit jam – will soon appear on store shelves bearing the OU kosher symbol. Chief Rabbi of Armenia Gersh Meir Burshtein is a mashgiach (supervisor) for the Rabbinate of Chicago, a collaboration that resulted in the kosher certification of yet another Armenian cannery in 2009.
According to Rabbi Burshtein, Armenia has strong potential for expansion with respect to the production of high quality kosher products.
This year, the reconstruction of a local cheese factory is also scheduled for completion. For over eight years, Rabbi Burshtein supervised the production of small quantities of “Chalav Yisrael” cheese. With the reconstruction of the factory, the plant’s entire production will be focused on kosher cheeses.
While Armenian producers are not oriented towards producing mass quantities of kosher products, they are certainly top-of-the-line and high quality comparable to that of world famous producers.
Nothing like affordable kosher cheese to make the American companies squirm…
This is really great news. Now we sit back and wait for the frum holier than thou morons to come out and scream against more kosher products becoming available. Instead of looking at the positive side with toiv ayin, they look at everything with rah ayin and negatively.
What is the difference between kosher aluminum foil and non-kosher aluminum foil ?
Armenians have a tradition of fine craftsmanship, including in the food industry which they controlled in many major cities in the old USSR. I have enjoyed the Armenian fruit mashke in the FSU on many a Shabbos and Yom Tov as it has been on our kosher lists for years now, and I am happy to see it is being exported as a kosher product. I hope they sell the cheese here as well; I remember Armenian cheese from before I was frum and it is great stuff.