PRODUCERPROFILES

THE FACTS

Bassema Barahmeh Anza Village, Palestine

Village Co-operative:Anza

Location: SouthWest of Jenin, West Bank, Palestine

Members: 75 Co-operative annual yield:60 tons of olive oil

Farmer, board member of the Palestine Fair Trade Association, village council member and mother of four, Bassema Barahmeh begins her day in Anza village at 4am. She’s a hard-worker who in addition to being a noted expert in hand-rolling maftoul, also produces organic Fairtrade olive oil, shells almonds, blends za’atar, and bakes pastries with other women to sell at local school canteens.

Located 450 metres above sea level, Anza is one of the most scenic villages in Palestine with breathtaking sea views on clear days, and the abundant plains that surround the mountain on which Anza sits are clothed in a semi-circle of green and golden colors depending on the season. Like many small villages in Palestine, Anza is proud of its agricultural and culinary heritage.

Bassema has 10 dunums (1 dunum is 1,000m2) of olive trees, producing around 300 litres of oil in a good year, some of which she sells to Canaan, keeping the rest for her family. Like other Anza farmers, she has benefitted from the use of Fairtrade premiums to buy tools and materials for harvesting.

www.zaytoun.org | 0207 832 1351 | contact@zaytoun.org

Traditionally, families have been represented in the PFTA by the man of the household, but Bassema considered it important to join and sell olive oil from her family land independently of her husband. “I wanted the independence, and to see the results of my work. I’ve got a good reputation for my produce, and because I am proud of my work I want it to be in my name.”

Famous for being a village that values education for girls and young women, Anza’s women co-operative is one of the most active in the area and Bassema is their current co-ordinator. The women produce and sell two to three tonnes of maftoul to Canaan annually. Bassema is proud of their economic and social role: “As a Palestinian woman, I transfer these traditions to the next generation of women in order to preserve Palestinian culture and connect them with their heritage, and also to offer them the chance to be future leaders in the community”. Bassema’s capacity for hard work is matched by her vision for empowering other women. Inspired by her involvement in fair trade and the opportunity it offers for long term financial security and sustainable work, she says: “Now I have an opinion. I have a say in this household and the community. I am a breadwinner and can make my own decisions. Even in my own household, I don’t have to wait for my husband’s permission, but can just go ahead and do things for myself. It has given me independence and raised my morale. My life has transformed.”

Visit PalestineEvery year, Zaytoun organises trips to Palestine for its supporters and customers. These trips are timed to coincide with the annual olive harvest in October.

www.zaytoun.org/visit_palestine.html

Zaytoun supports an olive tree planting project which is run by the Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA). The PFTA farmer co-op produce the olive oil, maftoul, almonds and freekeh which Zaytoun sells.

Farmers interested in participating in the project apply through Palestine Fair Trade Association coordinators. Allocations are based on the following, a farmer must:

• Own land suitable for the number of trees applied for

• Demonstrate capacity to care for and nurture trees

• Be ready to prepare land for a collective tree planting day

• All trees must be planted on the day they are delivered.

Priority is given to farmers who:

• Have lost trees to Israeli destruction

• Farm small areas• Are women landowners

interested in farming• Young starter farmers who have

inherited or acquired land.

£20 pays for 5 olive tree saplings (3 years old) to be planted in Palestine. Find out how to take part by clicking on our website:

www.zaytoun.org/plant_a_tree.html

TREES FOR LIFE

www.zaytoun.org | 0207 832 1351 | contact@zaytoun.org