Israel’s super market show

July 19, 2010 - 8:32 AM by

The Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.

If there’s one thing Israelis know, it’s markets. Not the bull and bear kind, but the spice, food, embroidered, handwoven goods kind.

The local cable TV show ‘Market Values’ (Shvakim in Hebrew) recognizes that knowledge and has been taking viewers for in-depth looks not only at the rich, colorful open air markets of Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem, the Carmel Shuk in Tel Aviv and the Acre Shuk, but has travelled around the world to expose viewers to some of the planet’s most bizarre bazaars including Istanbul’s Great Bazaar, Mumbai’s Crawford Market, Bangkok’s Jatujak Weekend Market, and Marakesh’s Bazaar.

The show, hosted by Yishai Golan, uses the markets to present the local culture, cuisine, and musical traditions of the area surrounding the market.

Now, the rest of the world is going to gain from the Israeli experience in shopping in exotic locations. After only 13 episodes of the series have been aired, and the second season being filmed, both the BBC and The National Geographic Channel have bought the series from its creators, Tel Aviv-based Ananey Communications.

National Geographic TV will air ‘Market Values’ beginning in September on its channels in France, Belgium, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. And the BBC will air it on its various channels in Asia.

“The uniqueness of the series is that it brings to the television screen a bridging between cultures and forges a common denominator that transcends continents to reach a broad audience,” said Ananey manager for international business Sigal Shaldag in a press release issued after the BBC acquistion.

“We’re proud that National Geographic Television has bought ‘Market Values’. It is important in these times that the world see Israel through more than just CNN, and also see Israel’s beautiful markets,” she added in another statement released this week announcing the National Geographic purchase.

With Israeli shows and formats being bought right and left in recent years, here’s one show that’s going to really get around. And soon, maybe we’ll be hearing vendors around the world starting to scream out in Hebrew: “Tomatoes five shekels a kilo!”

Tags: , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, Business, Food, General, Israeliness, Life, Travel, tv 

Comments

2 Comments on Israel’s super market show

  1. David-Joe on Tue, Jul 20th 2010 3:47 AM

    2. As an Israeli scheduled to return to Israel in 2011 from NYC after living here 24 years, with visits now and again, I have become used to the American version of a market: Wholefoods Market.

    Definitely the greatest supermarket in the world and it revolutionized the concept.

    I just wonder how one goes BACK from Wholefoods to the shuk – not fun.

  2. k on Tue, Jul 20th 2010 6:53 AM

    3. You do realize that in America, anything that isn’t completely unhealthy is categorized as “health food”, right? There are lots of healthy and fresh foods at a shuk (and there are some wholefoods markets in the country too, by the way). There are also many Whole Foods type of stores, like Eden Teva, Teva Castell, etc.

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap