First Palestinian olive oil to carry Fairtrade mark

The Fairtrade Foundation has announced that the first Palestinian olive oil to carry the Fairtrade mark will start to appear on UK shop shelves in 2009. Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said that The Fairtrade Foundation had been working with olive producers in the Palestine and was very excited by prospect of this new product being available to the British public in 2009. Olive production was a vital source of livelihood income for Palestinian communities. The Fairtrade mark would help to increase their access to international markets and provide opportunities to earn more sustainable incomes.
 

Olive and olive oil production is often the only feasible agricultural activity that can take place on fragile and marginal lands and is a crucial alternative to abandonment or desertification. As a result of the conflict in the region, Palestinian farmers continue to face severe barriers in carrying out their normal day-to-day agricultural activities caused through restrictions on movement and water shortages which exacerbate levels of deprivation and marginalisation. Internationally recognised Fairtrade certification of registered small farmers’ associations will support and encourage the Palestinian producers. 
 

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk