Tony Blair visits Palestinian Success Story
We’ve just received the following press release from Canaan Fair Trade, a Shared Interest customer and producer of the only Fairtrade certified olive oil. This really does illustrate what a massive accomplishment Canaan Fair Trade and Fairtrade in general have made in the region. Congratulations Canaan!
Canaan Director Nasser Abufarha meeting with Tony Blair
Jenin, Palestine. November 19, 2009. Tony Blair, the economic representative of the Quartet, visited Canaan Fair Trade in the village of Burqin and pronounced it a showpiece of Palestinian economic development. Mr. Blair toured Canaan’s new $2.5 million facility on Tuesday, November 10. Canaan Director Nasser Abufarha met with the Blair delegation and presented the plant and products.
Canaan produces and exports premium olive oil and Palestinian foods made by the 1700 farm families of the Palestine Fair Trade Association. Within its first three years, Canaan became the largest exporter of olive oil from Palestine. Their products are sold in 12 countries around the world. More than $8 million in sales have come back to the farmers and the Palestinian economy in the last three years thanks to Canaan customers like Dr.Bronner’s Magic Soaps, and Alter Eco and Whole Foods in the US, Equal Exchange, Sainsbury, the Cooperative, and Zaytoun in the UK, Zatoun in Canada and DWP in Germany.
Dr. Abufarha said, “Economic development is a catalyst for peace in this region. Sound and fair economics can help our farm communities reach their potential and present creative venues for them to address their national and political aspirations.”
Canaan asked for Mr. Blair’s help in opening the doors for export business growth from the Jenin area by setting up measures to allow businesses to ship containers through the nearest checkpoint without hindrance and improper handling of food product by the Israeli security procedures. Canaan also asked to set up measures that would allow farmers to access their underground water resources currently denied by Israel.
Mr. Blair’s visit to the area was to inaugurate the opening of the Jalama checkpoint in the northern West Bank for the Galilee Palestinians to shop in Jenin. Commenting on the event, Dr. Abufarha said, “We hope that this beginning will lead to greater and more relaxed modes of economic and cultural exchanges between our people in Palestine and the Palestinians and Israelis across the barrier lines.”
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Comments
A group of us from Scotland vistied the Canaan olive oil plant at the olive harvest festival this year. The oil is of very high standard yet the difficulties for growers and producers are immense. Opening one checkpoint is a drop in the ocean. The governments who are currently propping up the Israeli occupation and control of the West bank and Gaza must change their policies and support a peace which results in equality between all people in the region. This must start with halting settlements and moving current settlements out of the West bank,
I welcome increased exports of olive oil of this high quality. I’ve bought and used Palestinian olive oil for several years. Because of the problems caused by the Israelis the oil couldn’t be exported by the Palestinians but was carried out by a friendly Italian olive oil dealer.
Unfortunately the area of land of olive groves is diminishing every year – Israeli settlements, security roads, pollution by settlers etc.
The Palestinian exporters are extremely unlikely to get any assistance from Blair I’m afraid.