Small Farmers. Big Change.

by Rob Everts, Co-President, Equal Exchange

Exactly one year ago three of us from Equal Exchange made our first visit to the West Bank to meet with farmers during the olive oil harvest.  While meeting the farmers, their families and cooperative leaders, as well as PARC (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee) officials, we learned the profoundly integral role olive trees have played in the lives, culture and livelihoods of Palestinians for centuries.  We also learned about the profound challenges growers face in making the economics of olive cultivation viable.

Sania Shqeer, member and board member of the Al Zawyeh olive oil co-op

Many farmers are separated from their groves by either the separation wall or large Israeli settlements or are attacked by settlers as they try to harvest their crops.  In addition, severe limitations are placed on their ability to collect rainwater for irrigation.  These obstacles make care and attention to the trees very difficult if not impossible.

It is in this environment that the farmer co-ops of PARC started harvesting their olives in mid-October.  In order to support farmers, PARC started a campaign to recruit volunteers called “Ehna Ma’kom” or “We’re With You”. As part of this campaign, they have recruited volunteers from Palestine, Europe, North America and other countries to assist them in picking the olives. The presence of the international volunteers also helps to prevent attacks by Israeli settlers while farmers pick their olives especially in the areas next to the separation wall.

We remain hopeful that over time that these obstacles will be surmounted and that the olive industry will once again thrive as a viable source of income for Palestinian farmers.  Meanwhile, the Equal Exchange delegation was extremely impressed with the olive pressing, storage and bottling infrastructure that PARC has been pivotal in developing.

And it shows in the superb quality of the finished product!

Below, we share photos of the volunteer brigades sent to us by our PARC partners.