Ilsar cultivates top-quality black winter truffles (Tuber melanosporum) in the volcanic landscapes of northern Israel, bringing the age-old passion for superb truffles to delicacy lovers around the world
For hundreds of years, people hunted and dug-out truffles from under trees in natural forests, using pig’s attraction to the truffle aroma, and later with specifically trained dogs. In recent decades, with the natural supply of truffles dramatically decreasing, truffles are cultivated in a painstaking, farming process that takes 7-10 years before harvest can start.
Our truffles grow in a mountain climate some 1000 meters above sea level, surrounded by vineyards, apples, and cherry orchards
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
Climate survey and soil composition research
Our nursery is 100% solar-powered and eco-friendly. This advanced technology facility is specifically designed for data-tracking, controlling and monitoring the early stages of the truffle cultivation lifecycle.
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The host plant seeds are germinated and grown to have their initial root system
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
Seed-source data tracking
To initiate the mycorrhiza and the journey towards truffle fruiting, we inoculate every seedling root system with pre-qualified truffle spores and - tagged with a unique data tracking ID code
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
SPORES DNA QUALIFYING, INDIVIDUAL TREE DATA TRACKING: MORPHOLOGY AND ROOT INOCULATION
The Mycorrhiza grows and covers the tree root, allowing the absorption of minerals with its hairy structure
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
MYCORRHIZA DEVELOPMENT SAMPLING
Over the next 9-12 months, the inoculated plants are kept in climate, irrigation, and environment controlled growing-rooms, designed to eliminate contamination from foreign fungi species
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
PRE-PLANTING QUALITY CONTROL:MORPHOLOGIC AND MOLECULAR TESTING,FUNGI SPECIES VALIDATION
Following micro-element testing, the soil composition is optimized for truffle farming and a computerized irrigation system is installed. Our partnered farmers are then planting the orchards with qualified plants from our nursery
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
REGULAR SOIL SAMPLING AND TESTING
Our support and mentoring teams deliver continuous professional, operational and scientific support and knowhow, to our farming partners.
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
INDIVIDUAL TREE DATA TRACKING
During their initial 4-6 years, as the trees and their root system grow - the Mycorrhiza development is closely monitored
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
CLIMATE SURVEY AND SOIL COMPOSITION RESEARCH:
PH LEVELS, DRAINAGE
Following years of daily training to detect ripe truffles, the dogs and their trainers marking the truffle-producing trees, and it to the database
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
DATA TRACKING TRUFFLE PRODUCING TREES AND DOG PERFORMANCE
Harvest season, we are rewarded for our long-awaited truffles from the ground.
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
WEIGHT, SIZE, DNA AND QUALITY RANKING. COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Cleaned, rated and Individually guaranteed for quality and origin, we pack and ship our truffles to allow for fresh delivery worldwide
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD QUALIFYING AND RANKING, DNA QUALITY TESTS
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Ilsar Standard of Excellence
ISE, Ilsar Standard of Excellence tracks, monitors and nurses the truffle lifecycle, creating the ideal organic conditions at every step.With advanced data tracking, we follow each tree-plant from seed to harvest and every truffle, from spore to table.
ISE guarantees the quality and origin of every truffle sent out to our clients.We support nature’s organic process by rigorously using cutting-edge technology and science to guarantee the quality and origin of our truffles
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