Zaytoun
Encyclopedia
Zaytoun is a non-profit organisation established to support Palestinian
farming communities by helping to increase the market for their olive oil
products internationally, and also by helping the farmers themselves improve the quality of their oil through training and equipment provision.
As a result of the current conflict, Palestinian olive farmers have faced the uprooting of many of their crops and also suffer from a lack of access to their farms due to the separation wall. Zaytoun operates within the Palestinian Occupied Territories to establish cooperatives that enable farmers to improve the quality of their oil and to highlight the impact of the conflict on poverty.
Up to 100,000 families depend upon the olive harvest for their livelihoods to some extent.
Zaytoun is supported by UK charity War on Want
amongst others. They were awarded Fairtrade certification for their olive oil in March 2009
uses the olive oil for anointing in various services throughout the year.
Any profits Zaytoun makes are invested in further product development in partnership with their suppliers, in local producer support projects run by NGOs such as Oxfam
and War on Want, put straight back into acquiring more stock to meet growing demand and invested in working with a volunteer harvest team.
As the economic crisis deepens, for many the olive harvest provides their main means of survival. Between 2004 and 2009 Zaytoun sold over 170 tons of olive oil, bringing well over £1 million in income to producing communities. In addition, Zaytoun's policy of, wherever possible, ensuring all labeling and packaging takes place in the Palestinian territories
, creats further employment opportunities. Zaytoun also supports Palestinian producers by selling a range of other artisan produce including dates, almonds, couscous, za’atar herbs, soap and olives. Both the olives and the oil are now certified organic and Fairtrade.
The internationally recognised Fairtrade certification of registered small farmers associations will support and encourage the Palestinian producers to work collectively and be stronger in vocalising their desire to farm in peace. The mark will also increase their access to international markets, provide opportunities to earn more sustainable incomes and improve future prospects for their communities.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
farming communities by helping to increase the market for their olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
products internationally, and also by helping the farmers themselves improve the quality of their oil through training and equipment provision.
As a result of the current conflict, Palestinian olive farmers have faced the uprooting of many of their crops and also suffer from a lack of access to their farms due to the separation wall. Zaytoun operates within the Palestinian Occupied Territories to establish cooperatives that enable farmers to improve the quality of their oil and to highlight the impact of the conflict on poverty.
Up to 100,000 families depend upon the olive harvest for their livelihoods to some extent.
Zaytoun is supported by UK charity War on Want
War on Want
War on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
amongst others. They were awarded Fairtrade certification for their olive oil in March 2009
Income and investment
Since its inception in 2004, Zaytoun has imported and distributed 170 tons of olive oil to a mixture of retail and wholesale customers, in addition to regional fair-trade and Palestine campaign groups. Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith groups have also taken an interest, ordering the oil for their places of worship and to sell at local stalls as part of a message of inter-faith peace promotion. Southwark CathedralSouthwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
uses the olive oil for anointing in various services throughout the year.
Any profits Zaytoun makes are invested in further product development in partnership with their suppliers, in local producer support projects run by NGOs such as Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
and War on Want, put straight back into acquiring more stock to meet growing demand and invested in working with a volunteer harvest team.
As the economic crisis deepens, for many the olive harvest provides their main means of survival. Between 2004 and 2009 Zaytoun sold over 170 tons of olive oil, bringing well over £1 million in income to producing communities. In addition, Zaytoun's policy of, wherever possible, ensuring all labeling and packaging takes place in the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
, creats further employment opportunities. Zaytoun also supports Palestinian producers by selling a range of other artisan produce including dates, almonds, couscous, za’atar herbs, soap and olives. Both the olives and the oil are now certified organic and Fairtrade.
Fairtrade certification
Zaytoun marked Fairtrade Fortnight (23 Feb – 8 March 2009) with the launch of the first ever Fairtrade-certified Olive Oil and Olives, direct from Palestinian farms. UK business Zaytoun CIC, a Community Interest Company, created a market for Palestinian olive oil in 2004, importing the products direct from farming communities, and launched a Fairtrade-certified range in Britain.The internationally recognised Fairtrade certification of registered small farmers associations will support and encourage the Palestinian producers to work collectively and be stronger in vocalising their desire to farm in peace. The mark will also increase their access to international markets, provide opportunities to earn more sustainable incomes and improve future prospects for their communities.