Have you learnt that Palestinian farmers have been cultivating their lands for lots of of years and proceed to take motion, whatever the challenges of farming under illegal occupation?
Whether or not or not it’s peppery olive oil, fudgy Medjoul dates, sweet crunchy almonds, zesty za’atar, smoky freekeh or nutty maftoul, these aren’t passing meals traits, nevertheless time honoured traditions. And Zaytoun are dedicated to bringing you the proper from Palestine’s fertile groves and fields, all whereas serving to you cultivate solidarity and help from all through the globe.
Who’re Zaytoun?
Zaytoun is a social enterprise impressed by a love of Palestinian custom, communities and delicacies. They exist to help Palestinian farmers by means of truthful commerce reasonably than help, with 100% of revenue reinvested in path of delivering this mission.
Olive promote premium prime quality merchandise which may be ethically sourced, sustainably grown and sourced from farmers in Palestine who the employees go to repeatedly. In doing so, they help Palestinian farming communities going by the challenges of illegal Israeli occupation and settlement by means of commerce. Their merchandise are harvested and prepared by hand; a testament every to the proud heritage and culinary traditions of the Palestinian people, and the distinctive prime quality of Palestinian produce.
The beginnings
Zaytoun was launched in 2004 in response to drastic Israeli restrictions on Palestinian rights to journey, commerce and entry their lands and livelihoods. On their return from Palestine, they bought 200 bottles of olive oil, inviting household and associates to buy a case. The thought unfold quickly amongst Palestinian solidarity networks, highlighting the need for one factor tangible and sustained to help Palestinians, that every supported current activism and reached previous it. A straightforward purchase stable a direct connection to Palestinian farming communities; supporting their livelihoods whereas carrying a much bigger message in a bottle – the story of the people of Palestine, their love for his or her lands and the rich heritage they carry and are comfy to share with us.
We’re nonetheless surprised by the tastes and flavour of Palestinian meals, and the expertise of the farming communities who, 12 months after 12 months, share their harvests with us. Their love of wonderful meals and the way in which wherein it has of bringing people collectively, conjures up and delights us as lots as ever.
Olive for the time being
After starting with olive oil, Zaytoun now promote plenty of merchandise grown by completely completely different farming communities in Palestine. These merchandise are moreover now broadly accessible from extreme highway shops, from delicatessens to Fairtrade outlets and wholefood retailers. Their employees has grown, alongside a rising board with a wealth of experience and backgrounds in social enterprise, Fairtrade and Palestinian solidarity.
They’re proud to work with fairly just a few Palestinian suppliers, with whom they’ve longstanding relationships constructed up over widespread visits to farms, factories and providers. A number of of those embrace:
Canaan Trustworthy Commerce
Canaan works with over 2000 artisan family farms spanned all through 52 completely completely different villages to sustainably provide olive oil, almonds, freekeh and maftoul amongst completely different merchandise. Based in Jenin, northern Palestine, Zaytoun have been working with Canaan since 2006.
Nablus Cleansing cleaning soap Agency
Zaytoun’s olive oil soaps are made by The Nablus Cleansing cleaning soap Agency which was primarily based in 1971 by the Tbeleh family who’ve been making cleansing cleaning soap for over 400 years.
Nakheel Palestine
Nakheel Palestine is a regional chief in rising, packing, and exporting the very best prime quality Palestinian Medjoul dates. The company, beforehand named MADICO, grew out of a sturdy dedication to spend cash on the Palestinian agricultural sector, to protect Palestinian land and introduce high-quality Palestinian merchandise into native and worldwide markets. They have been suppling Zaytoun with Medjoul dates from Jericho since 2011.
Palestine Trustworthy Commerce Affiliation
The Palestine Trustworthy Commerce Affiliation (PFTA) is crucial truthful commerce producers union in Palestine, with over 1400 small-scale Palestinian farmers joined in truthful commerce collectives and cooperatives all through the nation. Their cooperatives present Zaytoun, by means of Canaan Trustworthy Commerce, and Zaytoun help their Bushes for Life tree planting scheme.
Palestine Gardens
Palestine Gardens offers Zaytoun with succulent Medjoul dates from growers inside the Jordan Valley. Its objective is to increase the share of Palestinian agricultural product in world markets. Zaytoun have been working with Palestine Gardens since 2013.
Sindyanna
Sindyanlnawhich offers Zaytoun’s zesty za’atar, works with Palestinian producers dwelling in Israel, who face discrimination and unequal entry to sources.
West Monetary establishment Salt Agency
The West Monetary establishment Salt Agency is the one Palestinian Lifeless Sea Salt producer. Primarily based in 1960, it offers Zaytoun with 100% pure bathtub salt and is located on the west monetary establishment of the Lifeless Sea.
Visiting Palestine
Zaytoun moreover coordinate visits to Palestine, celebrating the rich cultural and culinary heritage whereas offering notion into the social and cultural panorama. It moreover affords people the prospect to satisfy just a few of the producer communities who present their merchandise, from Nablus soap-makers to olive farmers in Jenin.
Lodging is generally in native lodging or with farmers’ households. Company have the possibility to witness first-hand the every day difficulties of life under occupation, however moreover participate inside the richness of Palestinian lives which transcend victimhood and political strife. Expereinces can embrace serving to convey residence the expensive olive harvest whereas offering help and solidarity, or touring the kitchens and markets of Palestine to know additional in regards to the meals custom
Amid my frantic life, cluttered with unimportant niggles, I felt humbled by the gradual, quiet strategy whereby our Palestinian friends get on with atypical life, resist the occupation and keep defiant.
Be taught additional about visits proper right here
Strategies to point help
There are a selection of strategies to turn out to be concerned and current help from afar, along with:
Buy Palestinian
Buy from Zaytoun, supporting producers and spreading the phrase to your neighborhood. You might also encourage your native shops and cafes to stock Zaytoun merchandise, which may be discovered from fairly just a few wholesalers. In case you run a retailer or small enterprise, chances are you’ll as nicely develop right into a stockist your self.
Put together dinner Palestinian meals
Why not invite your mates over and prepare dinner dinner them a Palestinian meal? In case you’re undecided what to prepare dinner dinner, strive Zaytoun’s recipesbuy a Palestinian cookbookand adjust to Zaytoun on social media for additional inspiration.
Plant a tree
Olive timber are an vital provide of earnings for small-scale farmers inside the West Monetary establishment. Planting timber by means of the Palestine Trustworthy Commerce Affiliation offers a risk to take constructive movement, along with being a thoughtful reward for seasonal and non secular celebrations.
Assist Zaytoun’s campaigns
Sign as a lot as Zaytoun’s publication to be the first to look out out about new campaigns. As well as they attribute advertising marketing campaign info on our weblog and social media.