Manal Abdallah Promotion & Media Coordinator at Canaan Fair Trade
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ZAYTOUN PROFILES Manal Abdallah Promotion & Media coordinator at Canaan Fair Trade THE FACTS Zaytoun Established in 2004 with the first imports of Palestinian olive oil. World’s first ever Fairtrade certified Palestinian product launched through Zaytoun in 2009 – olive oil and olives. Now sourcing a range of artisan products produced by hundreds of cooperatives across the West Bank as well as Palestinian farmers living in the Galilee Manal Abdallah Photo by Nik Pikkard Photography Canaan Buys and packages produce Zaytoun is proud to source many of our products from cooperatives from over 40 cooperatives who sell to Canaan Fair Trade, based in Jenin. Manal was inspired in Palestine’s West Bank, when producing a feature on Canaan for Al Jazeera to join the Canaan promoting fair trade and team as communication manager. As a rising videographer with a organic certification passion for food, farming and fair trade she helps tell the story of the Palestinian farmers to the wider world. She has worked as co-produc- er on documentary films in Palestine as well as news producer for a Zaytoun products local news network Arab Broadcasting Services ABS. Olive Oil, Olives, Medjoul Dates, Maftoul, Za’atar, “For me as a Palestinian, not only does Fair Trade support farmers in Almonds, Sun-dried enhancing their production procedures and product quality, but also Tomatoes and Olive Oil Soap it brings back traditions lost in the midst of a conflict. It introduces a new spirit into the work ethic of the villages and renews the social ties weakened by the conflict. I am so looking forward to using my skills to tell the story of the farmers and afford the world the opportunity to taste what we as Palestinians can produce from the land of milk and honey!“ Zaytoun CIC - 0845 345 4887 - [email protected] - www.zaytoun.org “Olive farming is about heritage, it’s not just about money. We inherit this land from our parents and we give it to our children” Belal Eid, Jorat Amra Cooperative Zaytoun is a Community Interest Company founded in 2004 to create and develop a UK market for artisan Palestinian produce. The company is a cooperative, and a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. In the wake of the second intifada, Palestinian producer communities suffered economic hardship and isolation from the world community. TREES FOR LIFE We saw a role for Fairtrade in a conflict zone as a way not only to secure sustainable livelihoods for Palestinian farmers but also to allow those Zaytoun supports an olive farming communities a voice in the wider world; to speak of their rich tree planting project which is history and heritage and their lives as farmers, families, landowners and run by the Palestine Fair Trade traders. Association (PFTA). The PFTA farmer coops produce the In 2004 many farmers were forced to sell their olive oil to Israeli traders olive oil, olives, Maftoul (giant at below cost price. Farmers are now being paid a fair price for their couscous), almonds and sun- organically grown produce and the additional Fairtrade premium paid to dried tomatoes which Zaytoun the cooperative allows for further development and training. sells. Farmers interested in Women are also well supported by Fairtrade olive oil sales. Because of the participating in the project restrictions of the occupation, many men are unemployed, and women apply through Palestine Fair have increasingly found themselves bringing in useful household income Trade Association coordinators. from farming their lands. Allocations based on the following, a farmer must: Since its inception, Zaytoun has imported and distributed well over 200 tonnes of olive oil to a mixture of retail and wholesale customers, in • Own a land suitable for the addition to a strong core of regional fair-trade and Palestine campaign number of trees applied for groups. Faith groups have also taken an interest, ordering the oil for their • Demonstrate capacity to care places of worship and to sell at local stalls as part of a message of inter-faith for and nurture trees peace promotion. Zaytoun Olive Oil is used for anointments by Cathedrals • Be ready to prepare land for across the UK throughout the year. a collective tree plantation day. All trees must be planted We now buy olive oil, as well as many other products, from hundreds of on the day they are delivered. cooperatives in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, and since 2009 we have been delighted to support dozens of cooperatives selling the world’s Priority is given to farmers who: first-ever Fairtrade olive oil and olives. • Have lost trees to Israeli In addition to the flagship Fairtrade olive oil and olives, Zaytoun sells destruction Medjoul dates, Fairtrade almonds, Maftoul, olive oil soap and the Palestinian • Farm small areas • Are women landowners herb mix “Za’atar”. interested in farming • Young starter farmers who Zaytoun endeavors to keep costs low in order to maximise the income from have inherited or acquired sales that goes back to Palestinian communities, at such time that Zaytoun land makes any profits they will be: £20 pays for 5 olive tree • invested in further product development in partnership with our suppliers saplings (3 years old) to • invested in local producer support projects e.g. olive tree planting be planted in Palestine. • invested straight back into acquiring more stock to meet growing demand Contact us (details below) • invested into growing the capacity of Zaytoun CIC to source from more to participate Palestinian farmer Experience the great taste of Palestine. Delicious artisan produce. Ethically sourced, fairly traded and organically grown. Available via Oxfam, Traidcraft and independent retailers Zaytoun CIC - 0845 345 4887 - [email protected] - www.zaytoun.org .