Alert from the Vaad Hakashrus of the Beis Din of Crown Heights:
We would like to inform the public that there are many red peppers now being sold in the tri-state area, and being distributed by some stores and organizations in the Crown Heights neighborhood, that are “produce of Israel” and are subject to the prohibition of Shviis (Shmitta Year Produce). It is forbidden to eat them.
The prohibited produce is labeled “Product of Israel.” If you have them in your home, you should allow them to go bad before disposing of them.
It’s assur to export them if indeed they are from shvies. Once they are here, why can you not eat them with kidushas shvies?
Also, they are much more likely from heater michirah, which would not make them peros shvies anyway.
See Rambam, Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel 4:2.
As for your second point, many rabbanim don’t hold of the heter mechirah.
Depending on when they started growing, they may be subject to the law of Sefichin which makes them forbidden to eat.
Also according to most Charedi including Chabad Poskim, we do not rely on Heter Mechira. The Rebbe wrote to Kfar Chabad that they should not rely on Heter Mechira.
It is ignorant to assume that “more likely from heater michirah”. Many secular farmers here do NOT even do hater mechira. There is a lot of completely asur produce being sold right here in Israel to people that don’t care.
Beside this see the comment about shefichin
ALWAYS check the Country of Origin for all produce.
While you’re at it, be in the habit of checking for the hechsher on every single can, package, container, cereal box, etc., when the store overall does not have supervision.
This is not just a shemittsah issue. it is an issue every year because of the requirement of terumos umaasros on produce of eretz yisroel.
Peppers from israel were given out at the drive on east New York last week. Some of the peppers we got were from Mexico and some from israel! Was easy to miss!