How can one eat non-certified kosher Israeli produce?

Question

In Israel, there are many stores that are not certified kosher that sell produce grown in Israel. What is the procedure for taking teruma and maaser, and is there anything else a buyer would need to keep in mind?

Answer 1

One separates the truma and ma'aser for oneself as explained by and Canadian Council of Orthodox Rabbis - COR and the OU Separating Terumah and Maaser

1) Place all of the produce in front of you.

2) Remove slightly more than 1% of the produce. For example, if there are 100 oranges, one whole orange and a small part of a second orange are separated.

3) A coin, which is valid currency in the country in which the redemption is performed, is designated for redemption. At the time of this writing, one nickel is sufficient3.

4) No blessing is recited because of the possibility (though remote) that terumah and ma’ aser were separated in Israel.

Separate 10% of the remainder for ma'aser rishon.

Ma’ aser R.ishon: 10% of the remaining produce is designated Ma’ aser Rishon. This is normally given to the Levi, but may be eaten by anyone. However, in practice, when purchasing produce in a store, the halachah requires that the ma’ aser be designated, but it may then be eaten by the owner of the produce, for the reason explained in footnote 7 below.

Footnote 7 states:

7 There is a slight possibility that there is no obligation to tithe the produce. One reason is that the local Rav may have already have done so. Since this possibility is remote, the produce must be tithed. However, there are sufficient grounds to apply the rule of hamotzi mechavero olav horaya (the burden of proof lies with the extractor), and the ma’ aser portion may be eaten after it is designated.

Note this:

Terumas Ma’ aser: 10% of the Ma’ aser Rishon is separated and is designated for the Kohen. As Terumah Gedolah, this may only be eaten by a Kohen who is ritually pure, and it is therefore left uneaten today. It., too, must be wrapped before it is discarded.

Separate 10% of the remainder for either Ma'aser Sheni (yers 1, 2, 4, 5) or Ma'aser Ani (years 3, 6) based on which year of the Shmittah cycle it is.

A coin is designated for the redemption of Maaser Sheini. This coin must be worth at least a shoveh pruta. At the time of writing, a nickel is sufficient.

One recites the appropriate text specifying which parts are trumah or ma'aser

If one has difficulty reciting the full text or if it not available, one may recite the following simplified version:

"All separations of Terumah and Maaser and redemptions of Maaser Sheini and Neta Revai shall be effected in accordance with the text of the Chazon Ish."

The separated portion is wrapped and discarded. The coin must be disposed of so that no one shall accidentally find it and use it.