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Palestinians Trade Up

03 Mar 2009 by Martin Wroe

The first Palestinian olive oil to carry the fairtrade mark has been launched in the UK.

Zaytoun extra virgin olive oil was launched at a Co-operative store in Archway, London and is now available across the UK – if you look hard enough.

Olive oil production provides many Palestinian farmers with as much as 50% of their annual income. Olive production also prevents the abandonment of the land and the spread of desertification. However, as a result of the conflict in the region, Palestinian farmers face severe barriers in carrying out their normal day-to-day agricultural activities, mainly through restrictions on movement, exacerbating levels of deprivation and marginalisation. Almost 75% of Palestinians live below the United Nations poverty line of $2 a day.

“The zaytoun, the olive, means everything to us,” said olive farmer, Mahmoud Issa, who came across to the UK for the launch. “My father and my grandfather farmed on this land, and now my children work alongside me harvesting.
“Our olive oil is of the highest quality because of the fertility of the land and we use traditional farming methods. Fairtrade will bring stability to our farmers with the Fairtrade premium allowing for investment.”

Zaytoun olive oil is made by the Palestine Fair Trade Producers Company (PFTPC), which is made up of eight co-operatives, consisting of about 265 farmers, but the aim is to bring as many growers as possible into the scheme through the registered small farmers’ co-operatives, which include some 1,700 growers.

More information on Zaytoun here.
Fairtrade Foundation website.
Fairtrade Fortnight events and ideas here

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