For Fairtrade Fortnight this year Yorkshire will be playing host to Fair Trade producers from Palestine. Palestinian olive growers Manal Abdallah and Abu Rafat Odeh, will speak about the Fair Trade company Zaytoun.

Zaytoun is a British based community initiative aimed at enabling marginalised Palestinian olive farmers to access new markets by importing and distributing their products in the UK. In the groves of Palestine, Zaytoun’s producers grow and preserve olives and extract olive oil using traditional methods.

The olive growers face serious political and economic threats to their livelihoods; in the face of all the difficulties, Zaytoun strive to offer a sustainable future for their producers.

The farmers will be visiting schools in the Craven area and visiting the Fairtrade Fair at the University of Leeds.  There are also public events being held in Bradford, Keighley and York.

The Palestinian economy is severely disrupted by the ongoing Israeli occupation. Small farmers and producers are the most vulnerable as they rely solely on the local struggling economy. Checkpoints stand in their way to accessing raw materials, agricultural lands and potential new markets. The separation wall blocks access to employment in Israel. Internal corruption dilutes international aid before it reaches them. One of the ways we can have a direct positive contribution to the income of small Palestinian farmers is by a mutually beneficial act: become a regular consumers of the Palestinian olive oil and other products from Zaytoun.

Fairtrade fortnight is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the Palestinians farmers’ issues. Fairtrade is already improving the lives of millions of small farmers globally by increasing their direct access to western markets and ensuring a fair price with a premium for the product to improve the lives of the farmers . The growth experienced in the sales of fairtrade products over recent years, in spite of economic global crisis, indicates the support networks to this way of shopping. The link with the Palestinian farmers is providing hope in an area of conflict and providing new channels for sustainable and mutually beneficial aid.

Zaytoun in Yorkshire Events

Palestinian Farmers in Bradford

WEDNESDAY 27^TH FEBRUARY, 6pm for 6.30-7.45pm

Seminar Room 0.50, Student Central, University of Bradford. (note change of venue from previous advertisement)

Excerpt from 2012  documentary ‘The People and the Olive’, followed by talk and Q&A session with producers

Zaytoun products and Palestinian handicrafts on sale.

The Olive Branch Fairtrade shop will also be open at same venue.   Free event

Please note that numbers are needed in advance as there is a limited capacity.  RSVP to karen dot palframan at talktalk dot net or phone Treehouse Café 01274 732354

Palestinian Farmers in Keighley

Wednesday 27th February, 8-9am

Free event at Central Hall, Keighley

The Deputy Mayor of Keighley, Sally Walker, will welcome the visitors to Keighley. Fairtrade wholesaler Premcrest will display their range of Fairtrade products.

Please email Ash Alom at Central Hall if you wish to attend: ash at kivca dot org dot uk

The University of Leeds Fairtrade Fair

Tuesday 26th February, 10am – 4pm

Parkinson Court, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

As part of the celebrations for Fairtrade Fortnight 2013, the University will be hosting a Fairtrade and Craft Fair in the Parkinson Court.  Come along and visit all the exciting stalls with Fairtrade products, clothing, handmade crafts, food, handbags and jewellery. Have a go at the Raffle and the Lucky Dip – all money raised from this goes towards Fairtrade.

There will also be a visit from Zaytoun olive farmers from Palestine who will be giving a presentation in Room B09 from 1pm – 2.30pm and joining in our celebrations. Looking forward to seeing you all on the 26th.

Taste of Zaytoun in York

Tuesday 26th February at 7pm, Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York

Everyone welcome.  No need to book. Free of charge – though donations welcomed.

Come and meet Manal and Odeh and hear them talk about their life with Zaytoun. Food will be provided (in exchange for a donation) by Food Not Bombs.

Event introduced by Ben Young from the York Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Zaytoun products will be available to buy at the event from the Fairer World stall and Hadeel products from Carol Pearman.

Organised by York Fair Trade Forum in co-operation with the York Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

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