The Em Hachita* matzah factory, located in the Atarot-Jerusalem Industrial Park, produces large quantities of machine-made matzah for sale domestically and export abroad (tens of thousands of pounds are shipped from the Haifa port for the Passover season).
*Literally "mother of wheat," referring to the wild wheat believed to be the ancestor of today’s domesticated varieties (read about Aaron Aaronsohn's June 1906 wheat discovery in Rosh Pina and on then on the slopes of Mt. Hermon; see Agricultural and Botanical Explorations in Palestine, By Aaron Aaronsohn, US Dept of Agriculture, 1910, p. 44).
In addition to the regular operation involving large machinery, the factory maintains a separate, smaller baking area and ovens for individuals and groups that wish to be actively involved in baking their own matzah. The first step is to thoroughly clean the utensils and all machine elements that will have contact with the flour and water, and the dough mixture.
The machine line which produces the commercial packaged matzah occupies a large room. In various stages, the matzah dough is pressed into thick sheets, flattened by rollers, then trimmed and further prepared for the baking stage.
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