Day Five: Commissioner Nikki Fried Wraps Up Israel Trade Mission

Tel Aviv, Israel – Today marked the fifth and final day of Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried’s first trade mission to Israel. Fried has spent several days meeting with government officials, agricultural research groups, and agriculture-related businesses, and will join other Florida Cabinet members tomorrow for a Cabinet meeting and business development meetings. Fried today also highlighted the potential for Florida-Israel joint ventures on medical cannabis.

Yesterday, Commissioner Fried met with Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The two shared a productive conversation on hemp research, agricultural technology, and other innovations for the future of agriculture, after which Minister Ariel said the following: “I am thankful to Commissioner Fried for her commitment to agricultural innovation, and for our excellent dialogue on improving the state of agriculture in both our nations. I applaud Commissioner Fried's trade mission to return Israel's agricultural best practices to Florida, and for her partnership in strengthening the Israeli-American relationship.”

Fried made this statement following last Thursday’s trade mission kickoff: “I’m thrilled to be in Israel learning about innovations on agriculture and citrus, water efficiency, cannabis, and more. We’re going to bring home ideas and best practices from the Middle East’s only democracy and one of the world’s leading nations on technology and research. As the first Jewish woman elected to the Florida Cabinet, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to strengthen the special bond between Florida and Israel.”

UPDATED: Photos from the trip

Recap of the first two days of the trade mission

Commissioner Fried’s daily schedule is as follows: 

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019

All times are in Israel Daylight Time (7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time) 

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