Palestinian olive oil and soap

Nasser Abufarha, founder and chair of the Palestinian Fair Trade Association (PFTA), commenced his talk by giving some details of his own background with fair trade and an explanation of why fair trade concepts are so relevant not only to the current situation in Palestine, but also to the olive oil producers in the region.  Eighty of Palestine’s orchards are given over to olives. The olive harvest comes at a time when little or nothing else is in season, making its social and economic importance even higher.

 The first priority was to raise awareness of the whole concept of 'Fair Trade' via workshops and community meetings.  There are no international guidelines for Fair Trade olive oil and these had to be developed on the ground.  In their first season, owing largely to some orders placed from the US, they were able to offer a minimum price for oil which was double the current market price. Understandably, this made a huge impact on farmers and by 2004 there were 1700 producers on their books.

 By July 2006 the PFTA were able to declare 375 farmers 100% organic, with the majority of the remainder awarded ‘in conversion’ status, which has opened up a whole new range of opportunities. They are currently working on increasing the percentage of Extra Virgin oil that they produce (from 20% to 80%) as another way of raising the value of their products. Since 2006 they have broadened their approach; starting with the formation of women’s co-operative groups producing other food products such as dried tomatoes, cous cous and soap, with the aim of integrating women into the Fair Trade movement.

Social empowerment: It is very difficult for charity or relief aid to be distributed in ways which do not eventually lead to dependency. This is one of the ways in which Fair Trade has added value; it contributes to giving people long term independence. “Assertion and recognition from Fair Trade provides empowerment for the farmers; it gives the weak power to articulate their entitlement.”

 One of the other ways that the sale of fairly traded olive oil is benefiting the community is through a series of community projects, for example; the Canaan scholarship fund, which helps to provide tuition fees for the children of farmers to attend university, and the development of a new centre for vulnerable high school students. This centre will eventually be staffed by both the graduates of the scholarship fund and international volunteers.

 Economic empowerment: The co-operative structure which Fair Trade encourages paves the way for small farmers to have a direct and personal engagement with international market forces that might otherwise be out of their league. Buyers have an opportunity to see Palestine in a different light; not just as an item on the news but as an agricultural entity with goods and services to offer.

 The introduction of Fair Trade principles and structures has resulted in the general market price of olive oil rising throughout Palestine; benefiting everyone, not just those farmers who are directly allied with the movement.

 Political empowerment: Fair Trade helps to focus awareness and attention on the community and the global/local problems which are affecting it. Through the use of leaflets and info panels on products, people can be reminded of an issue every day.  The products are “vehicles for our stories to reach a wider audience”.

 Nasser described the international distribution of their fairly traded olive oil as another form of Palestinian existence.  Palestine does not exist in our atlases but this does not mean Palestine does not exist.  The label ‘Made in Palestine’ represents more than just a statement of fact; it’s a different form of cartography which insists on recognition. In the current situation daily life itself is a form of resistance; continuing to work and to farm and to manufacture goods. Succeeding in getting their oil out of the country and onto the shelves in, not only shops, but also people’s homes is another shape taken by this resistance. The packaging of their oil as specifically ‘Palestinian’ is a form of communication with the outside world; it gives another level of meaning to the farming process and local activity. This oil is culturally and politically meaningful; it is not just a bottle of oil!

                                                                                                                        Hannah Grove, ed. CPM

                            23-25 August 2007 

                                                FAIR TRADE FAIR  2006

                                                  Westminster Central Hall,  London     

                   Lilian and customer

 Peter on the stall