Some farms may intentionally introduce predatory insects as part of their Integrated Pest Management. Additionally, some methods of hydroponic farming may contribute to the presence of moisture, algae, and decaying plant matter, causing a whole new host of infestation concerns ranging from flies to mites.
On a Kosher certified farm, systems are set up to maintain an environment free from any inlets or insect breeding grounds. All substances that are used are controlled to ensure that no microbes are inadvertently introduced.
It would seem that Kosher hydroponic produce would be the cure-all for the continuous infestation headache. However, there are some halachic implications to consider:
What Bracha?
Conventional farming grows food from the ground. Hence, the Bracha recited prior to eating vegetables is Borei Pri Hoadomo “Creator of fruits of the ground”. Can one truthfully say this Bracha on a salad that grew in water?
Some authorities1 are indeed of the opinion that one should recite the generic Bracha of Shehakol Nihiyeh B’dvaro “All came to be through His word”. Others2 argue to recite Borei Pri Hoadomo because the term “fruits of the ground” does not refer to the growth of the item at hand, but to its species in general, which does grow from the ground.
Can one fulfill the mitzvah of Maror?
It seems from the Talmud3 that Maror has to grow from the ground, not in water, it would stand to reason that hydroponically-grown lettuce would not be acceptable for use. In addition, the Talmud describes Maror as resembling the bondage in Egypt in that it “starts out soft and then becomes hard”4. Not all hydroponically- grown lettuce will possess qualities identical to those of traditional lettuce5. However, similar to the argument made for reciting Hoadomo, one can argue6 that the Talmud’s requirement for Maror simply delineates species acceptable for use as Maror, not to require that the Maror at hand have these characteristics itself.
As with all halachic questions, please seek the guidance of your Rav.
Whether you use it for Maror or not, Kosher certified produce will certainly sweeten your Yom Tov experience.
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1. Rabbi Avraham Danzig zt”l in Sefer Chayei Adom introduces this opinion in discussing the halachic status of potted plants. Although there is soil, he opined that the term Eretz and Adama are only appropriate when attached and part of the ground. Although he doesn’t address hydroponics, it would stand to reason that he would rule that a Shehakol Beracha be recited. See also Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt”l Yechava Daas Volume 6 Siman 12, Siddur Minchas Yerushalayim cited in Shailos Uteshuvos Shraga Ha’Meir Siman 2. It would seem this would also be the opinion of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l in Minchas Shlomo Tinyana Siman 9. He disagrees with the ruling of Chayei Adam regarding potted plants, and argues that even detached potted soil is called Adama or Aretz. It would seem however, that with plants grown in water he would certainly concur that it would be appropriate to say the Shehakol Beracha.
2. Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch Shlita, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner zt”l Shailos Uteshuvos Shevet Halevi Volume 1 Siman 205. Rabbi Asher Weiss Shlita also assumed this opinion while in conversation with this author about a different yet similar topic regarding the status of meat grown from stem cells.
3. פסחים לט ע”א מה מצה גידולי קרקע אף מרור גידולי קרקע
4. פסחים שם וז”ל “למה נמשלו מצריים כמרור לומר לך מה מרור זה שתחילתו רך וסופו קשה אף מצריים תחילתן רכה וסופו קשה” וע’ רש”י שם שפירש שהקלח שלו מתקשה כעץ
5. This concern is raised in Shailos Uteshuvos Shraga Ha’Meir Siman 2. This author was told in passing by the farmers at Fresh Box farms that the Romaine they grow gets harder after every subsequent harvest.
6. It seems to me that one can infer this from the disagreement between Rabbi Auerbach and the Chayei Odom. Rabbi Auerbach bases his disagreement with the Chayei Odom on this Gemara. He argues that it is clear from the Mishna that Maror grown in potted plants is acceptable even though Marror needs to have grown from “earth”. Therefore he concludes that potted soil despite being detached from the ground is still called “earth”. It would seem that the Chayei Odom would refute this proof by explaining that, unlike the qualifications for the Bracha, where the actual item must be a product of the earth, as regards Maror, the Gemara requires only the species to be one that grows from earth, not the actual item used.