Palestinian Olive Oil
 How would you like to help bring peace and justice to the Middle East, support fair trade practices, eat healthy and delicious food, and socialize with friends and neighbors all in one fell swoop?
The Middle East Program at AFSC Los Angeles is offering resources to individuals and groups to plan olive oil gatherings where guests can sample and obtain Palestinian olive oil, hear stories of olive harvesting, and learn about the situation of Palestinian farmers and the solidarity efforts of Israeli and international peace groups.
The olive oil gatherings are part of Ziyarat az Zeitoun ("Visiting the Olives"), an educational and advocacy project that highlights Palestinian culture and current political realities on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where Palestinian farmers face the loss of access to their land and the uprooting of their trees due to the occupation.
Obtaining Palestinian Olive Oil
If you can't be part of an olive oil gathering, you can still obtain Palestinian olive oil—whether for yourself, family or friends. AFSC is stocking olive oil from Palestine, and bottles may either be obtained from our office, or purchased online.
See details below > |
AFSC organizes olive harvest delegations to Israel-Palestine.
International support for the harvest in many cases makes the harvest possible. In addition to expressing solidarity, participants in the delegation will learn about obstacles that impact the harvest.
Why is it important to support the Palestinian olive harvest?
Why Should You Use Palestinian Olive Oil?
You will be supporting Palestinian farmers as they struggle with the difficulties posed by occupation and the separation wall.
You will be contributing to the farmers' livelihood and strengthening the wider Palestinian economy through fair trade prices (under the guidelines of the Palestine Fair Trade Association).
It tastes great! Palestinian olive oil is aromatic and flavorful.
Olive oils encountered in the supermarket are often blended to be bland to appeal to the American palate.
Although not yet certified organic, the use of traditional Palestinian farming practices means that the olive oil is free of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals.
For every 750 mL bottle sold, $1 is donated to Project Hope, an arts and education program for Palestinian youth. Another $1 is donated to the Trees for Life campaign which provides Palestinian farmers with olive tree saplings to renew decimated groves. |
Olive trees have been a part of the Palestinian landscape for thousands of years. They are also the second major crop in Palestine, used to produce olive oil, olive wood and olive-based soap. Symbolically, olive trees represent the Palestinian nation and people's ties to the land. More broadly, the olive branches are international symbols of peace and tranquility, needed now more than ever in this devastated part of the world.
For thousands of rural families in Palestine, agriculture is the main economic activity, as well as the major source of food. Every year, olive oil production accounts for 15 to 19% of total agricultural output in Palestine.
Since 2000 and the subsequent tightening of Israeli military closure policies, restrictions of movement and access to water, Palestinian productive capacities have been severely limited. Palestinian olive producers have been brought to the brink of destitution. Prevented from accessing their land, markets and the cities, the farmers are now struggling to make ends meet. Struggling to survive the hard times, families have been spending their savings or relying on loans, sometimes selling land and livestock to buy food or meet emergency needs.
How to Help: Host an Olive Oil Gathering
You can host an olive oil gathering at your home, place of worship, or other community location. AFSC can provide a presenter to talk about the olive harvest, demonstrate the preparing of food with the olive oil, and answer questions. Participants will hear a presentation about the challenges Palestinian olive tree farmers face—the destruction of trees, curfews, closures and checkpoints—and the acts of solidarity by Israelis and internationals. AFSC will also provide olive oil for sampling and purchase. All that you need to do is provide the location and invite people to attend.
If you feel comfortable hosting an olive oil gathering on your own, or if you live outside the regions of the AFSC offices involved in this project (Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta), AFSC can provide you with information and materials you need to plan and run your own Ziyarat az Zeitoun gathering.
Purchase Olive Oil from Palestine
 Bottles (750 mL) of fair trade Palestinian olive oil from Zatoun may be obtained from the AFSC Los Angeles office for $20 each. We also have 500 mL bottles of fair trade Holy Land Olive Oil from Palestine for $15 each. We are located in downtown Los Angeles (see "Getting to Our Office"). Please call in advance to ensure that we have adequate stock.
Gift Packs Now Available
Gift pack includes:
• 500 mL (shown above) or 750 mL bottle of Palestinian olive oil.
• 94 g bar of pure white olive oil soap, totally natural, handmade in Palestine, and certified Fair Trade by the Palestine Fair Trade Association.
• Gift card, soap pouch, and ribbon.
$20 (with 500 mL bottle)
$25 (with 750 mL bottle)
Available only through pick-up from the AFSC Los Angeles office. |
New!
You can now order Zatoun olive oil by the case (12 bottles) or half-case from the AFSC Store. See ordering information.
Contact
To learn more about the project, arrange an olive oil gathering, and/or purchase olive oil, please contact Benjamin Parke or Wafa Shami at the AFSC Los Angeles office at (213) 489-1900, or email mepeacela@afsc.org. Our address is:
AFSC
634 S. Spring Street, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Map / directions >
For More Information
Please visit AFSC's Ziyarat az Zeitoun web page to learn more about this project.
Also, please see the "Olives" section of the Middle East Program's Resources and Links web page for more information from other organizations, such as the fair trade guidelines used in the sale of the olive oil, facts about olive trees, reports about the olive harvest, and farming practices.
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