RAMALLAH, Feb. 22 (JMCC) - For years Palestinian olive oil has been all but accessable to international markets. But now an Oxfam initiative, in cooperation with other Palestinian organizations, is making it possible for Palestinian famers to run an economically feasible business venture with their age-old means of living by achieving Fairtrade status.
Oxfam's Willow Heske reports on how Fairtrade is helping Palestinian olive growers to tap the potential of global markets.
While Fairtrade has long been benefitting small-scale farmers across the globe, the project is the first of its kind in Palestine. The project is even more exciting because, at the end of 2008, the Palestinian olive growers’ product actually became the first olive oil in the world to gain the Fairtrade Labeling Organisation’s (FLO) international certification. The prized oil is now being marketed by Zaytoun, a UK-based ethical trading company that has entered into a long term contract with the farmers to buy whatever olive oil they are willing to sell.
Read the full article at Oxfam.org