Shemitah Produce

Laws relevant to Shemitah produce?

The following laws apply towards Shemitah produce:

1. Must be disowned from one’s land
2. Sefichin: All non-tree produce grown during Shemitah is forbidden to be eaten
3. Forbidden to destroy Shemitah produce.
4. Forbidden to do business with Shemitah produce.
5. Forbidden to bring Shemitah produce to Diaspora.
6. Forbidden to give it to a gentile.
7. The Shemitah produce may only be eaten until the time of Biur.

Disowning the Shemitah produce of ones land:[1]

Every owner that contains a Kedushas Shemitah product in his field must disown the product and give entrance for all people to be able to come and partake from the food.

Vegetables: Fields of vegetables which grew during the 6th year, must be disowned during Shemitah.

Q&A

May the food be eaten if it was not disowned and was rather guarded from people?

Some Poskim[2] rule the produce is forbidden to be eaten. Others[3] rule the produce is permitted to be eaten. Practically one may be lenient to allow the produce to be eaten.[4]

How to be Mafkir the produce:

Some Poskim[5] rule that the owner of the Shemitah produce must disown it verbally. Others[6] rule there is no need to do so and the produce is considered automatically disowned.

Must one remove tithes from Shemitah produce that was not disowned?

Some Poskim[7] rule that all Shemitah produce that was not disowned as required by law must have their tithes removed. Others[8] rule that it is not necessary to tithe any Shemitah produce even if it was not disowned. Practically the tithes are to be removed without a blessing.[9]