Fairtrade fortnight 2023

Choose Fairtrade to protect the future of our food   

By choosing Fairtrade now, you are taking a stand with producers in Palestine and around the world for fairer incomes so they can protect the future of our food. 

Fairtrade and the cost-of-living

Producers in Palestine enjoy a rich heritage of farming and land stewardship, and Fairtrade supports them to preserve a way of life and enables them continue to grow crops that are threatened with extinction.

However, the cost-of-living crisis is taking its toll on them, as it is the world over. In addition to challenges faced by many small holder farmers, Palestinian farmers bear the unique burden of farming under an illegal occupation which imposes restrictions on movement and access to water resources. They also face the continuous risk of land confiscation by the occupying military forces or vandalism by settlers.

Despite this, they continue to farm using the skills and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. They produce nourishing foods with outstanding flavour and have won Great Taste Awards for the olive oil, almonds, Medjoul dates, freekeh and maftoul.

Now, production and fuel costs are all increasing beyond affordable levels and if farmers can’t earn enough to make a living from farming, they won’t be able to continue the grow the foods we love.  

Olive growing in Palestine: A Fairtrade celebration

This year, Doha Asous, a family farmer from the ancient village of Burin, is visting the UK. She’ll be meeting our partners and speaking at events in London, Norwich, Harrow, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The following events are open to all, with free entry and a Zaytoun stall:

London – Tuesday 28th February, 7-9pm With Heather Masoud, co-founder of Zaytoun and Maggie Foyer, founder of The Olive Harvest Trust. The Crypt, St Peters Church, London, N1 4DA n1oliveoil@gmail.com

Norwich – Thursday 2nd March, 7pm
Charing Cross Centre, 17-19 St John Maddermarket, Norwich. NR2 1DN. Tel: 01603 620926

Harrow – Friday 3rd March, 6pm
Doha will be speaking after Magrib prayers at Harrow Mosque, 34 Station Rd, Harrow HA1 2SQ. www.harrowmosque.org.uk

Bristol – Saturday 4th March, 6-8pm
Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre, 27 Broad Street, Bristol, BS1 2HG www.palmuseumbristol.org/

Glasgow – Monday 6^th March, 1.15-2.30 Rainbow Turtle Fairtrade Shop, 7 Gauze St., Paisley PA1 1EP. www.rainbowturtle.org.uk/paisley-shop/

Edinburgh – Monday 6th March, 5.30pm Edinburgh Central Mosque

Edinburgh – Tuesday 7^th March, 10.30 ( timings TBC) Hadeel, 123 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JN https://www.hadeel.org/

Edinburgh – Tuesday 7th March, 2.30pm One World Shop, St John’s Church, Princes Street, EH2 4BJ https://www.oneworldshop.co.uk/

A role model for the future of farming

Doha produces a modest amount of olive oil and other food products for her family and local community and in a good year sells her surplus oil at the local market. An inspiring role model for the future of farming, she has been collecting heirloom seeds for decades and is a passionate advocate for biodiversity, indigenous food and farming heritage and an active member of the Slow Food International movement.

Burin’s location, surrounded by 3 hilltop settlements, means that the farmers face regular physical threats, and have to endure acts of vandalism against their land and trees. Burin co-operative is a member of the Palestine Fair Trade Association and the challenges posed by the ever-expanding settlements are echoed by farmers throughout the village.

Zaytoun has known Doha for many years through her hosting of the Protective Presence team, a group of international visitors who volunteer in Palestine to support the local farming community in bringing their olive harvest home safely.

5 ways to SUPPORT fairtrade in palestine

Choose Fairtrade and buy Palestinian products
Join a live event to hear directly from Doha Asous
Share our campaign, events and digital resources. 
Host your own Fairtrade Fortnight event and show a short film about farming in Palestine. 
Post our campaign messages on social media using hashtags  #BuyPalestinian and #ChooseTheWorldYouWant

How zaytoun has SUPPORTed fairtrade in palestine since 2004

Offers a sustainable market in the UK and Ireland for Fairtrade Palestinian products
Pioneered the certification of Palestinian oil as the world’s first Fairtrade olive oil
Provides financial security by paying in advance
Follows sourcing criteria that ensure transparency and fairness
Promotes connections between farmers and consumers including hosting producers during Fairtrade Fortnight to share their stories
Sources Fairtrade certified products (and organic) whenever possible.