Following extensive preparation by mehadrin kashrus
organizations to carry out the procedures associated with the
ma'aser oni year (this year) at all points of sale --
removing and giving produce to tzedokoh organizations
with which an authorization agreement has been signed--the
list of stores that fulfill the mitzvah of giving ma'aser
oni under the supervision of selected kashrus
organizations was recently printed in the Hebrew edition of
Yated Ne'eman.
Following the publication of the list, which increased public
awareness of the issue of preventing gezel matonos
aniyim, many consumers now prefer to buy fruits and
vegetables from stores that take ma'aser oni under
proper supervision. Meanwhile many store owners are also
joining arrangements for taking ma'aser oni under the
supervision of the mehadrin kashrus committees.
According to Maran HaRav Eliashiv, although the obligation to
separate and give ma'aser oni does not apply to
individuals buying produce in stores under proper kashrus
supervision since the produce is not tevel vadai,
nonetheless it is best to buy produce from stores supervised
by a kashrus committee that tends to store matonos
aniyim as well, and to prefer them over other stores.
Other stores under the supervision of mehadrin kashrus
committees that give ma'aser oni (or store owners who
would like to join this arrangement) may send name, address
and phone number to fax number 02-5377842 in order to
publicize this information.