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Why doe MPT sell Palestinian olive oil?
Each purchase brings much needed income to Palestinian farmers who face
harassment and violence as they tend to their trees and harvest their olives.
Proceeds also benefit the Michigan Peace Team in our work to support the
nonviolent campaign led by Palestinians to achieve liberation and restoration.
Every Fall, our Team members accompany farmers at harvest time, and we celebrate
the growing number of Israelis who join us in this campaign, including
Rabbis for Human Rights.
We handpick olives alongside farmers who had harvested the trees for
generations, and alongside Israelis and internationals who support human
rights and economic justice. Some of the trees we pick from are over 2000 years
old!
The olive oil is supplied to us by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief
Committee, who pays a fair price to the farmers' cooperatives and gives a
portion of the proceeds to children's programs in the Palestinian communities
that produce the oil.
Olive oil sales are the only annual source of income for many Palestinians, and
yet Israel and Jordan refuse to accept the Palestinian olive oil. So we try to
find a market for them here in the United States. What started as an
all-volunteer effort is now a Palestinian-owned enterprise.
Answers to most frequently asked questions
about Palestinian olive oil
Where does this olive oil come from?
The oil comes from the northern West Bank region which is the more severely
impacted by conditions on the ground, including the construction of the
separation wall.
Holy Land Olive Oil buys the oil from farmer co-ops directly or through partner
organizations such as PARC -the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees-
which is a not-for-profit institution dedicated to helping farmers. We feel it
is important to support farmer coops in these difficult times. Paying more for
the oil from the co-ops enable them to...
-
get higher
quality oil;
-
have better
quality control measures by buying directly at the press; and
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pay fair wages to
the farmers at a time when market prices are depressed because of prevailing
conditions.
Neither Israel nor
Jordan allow the sale of the oil within their territory – Israel since the
beginning of the 2000 Intifada, and Jordan to protect its budding olive oil
industry. The new harvest was supplied by the following coops:
The Organic Cooperative of Keereh, Salfit area;
The Cooperative of Koufer-eh-Deek, Ramallah area;
The Oil Cooperative of Bedeah, Salfit area;
The Cooperative of Beit Reema, Ramallah area;
National Cooperative Association of Taybeh, Ramallah
Is the oil organic?
Yes. In addition to the fact that Palestinian farmers, in general, do
not use pesticides or herbicides on olive trees (never have), the Organic
Cooperative of Keereh, in the Salfit area will be getting its organic
certification starting with next year’s harvest.
Is it "Fair Trade"? How much does the farmer get?
Holy Land Olive oil pays the coops a price that matches or exceeds the price set
by PARC. This is typically a price that is about 30-40% above depressed market
rates.
100% of the money paid for the oil goes to the farmer. In the case where there
is an intermediary such as PARC, the intermediary charges a small amount to
cover their costs.
What does the oil taste like?
Palestinian olive oil is aromatic and flavorful. Even for the non-expert, the
difference is immediately noticeable. Traditional Mediterranean oils are strong
flavored. In the U.S., consumers are more accustomed to mild seed oils such as
corn and soy oil. Olive oils encountered in the supermarket are often blended to
be bland to appeal to the American palate. They may be labeled "lite" or
"light", which refers to their flavor, not the caloric content. Newly pressed
olive oil has some of the strongest flavors you will encounter. This olive oil
is characterized by its distinct personality, robust aroma, and a flavor
evocative of fresh fruit. It has a peppery bite and a hint of bitterness [a
desirable trait] that disappears as the oil ages over time. Once you have tried
olive oil from Palestine, most other olive oils appear bland by comparison.
More information on our olive oil can be found at
Holy Land Olive Oil
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Olive Oil -
prices |
| Small (500 ml
bottle)........................ |
$18.00 |
| Large (750 ml
bottle)....................... |
$22.50 |
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