Zaytoun CIC - Celebrating ten years of fair trade with Palestine

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Zaytoun Harvest Tour 11th – 17th October 2015

Zaytoun Community Interest Company was founded by people who visited Palestine during the 2003 olive harvest; a trip which combined picking olives, learning about the political reality and legendary Palestinian hospitality. Zaytoun conducts this annual tour during the time of the olive harvest and gives an insight into the cultural and political landscape and opportunity to enjoy some of Palestine’s fine culinary and cultural heritage. Zaytoun aims to support small scale farmers in Palestine through the avenue of fair trade and to use their products to tell their stories; to this end our tour has an agricultural focus. Our tour is guided by a local member of staff in Palestine and a volunteer from the UK. We also work with local contacts and farmers who have expertise in each of the areas/ sites we visit.

Sunday 11th October Arrival and orientation in East Jerusalem. Group dinner at local restaurant and overnight at a Palestinian owned hotel in East Jerusalem.

Monday 12th October Travel to the Jordan Valley. Visit with date farmers near the ancient city of Jericho and learn about issues of land and water rights in this fertile area. Overnight and home cooked Palestinian dinner in Bethlehem Guest House.

Date farmer and graffiti on the wall near Bethlehem

Tuesday 13th October Tour of the Bethlehem area which includes a walk along the ‘wall’ to understand its effects in annexing land and separating communities and also chance to see Banksy and other graffiti on this heinous canvas. Free time in the afternoon to visit Manger Square and the historic and religious sites. Overnight and home cooked Palestinian dinner in Bethlehem Guest House.

Wednesday 14st October Half day in the olive groves; picking olives with a member of the Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA). Lunch in the olive grove. The PFTA is Zaytoun’s primary supplier of products including olive oil, olives, almonds, maftoul and freekeh. Free time in the evening to explore the Roman amphitheatre in Sebastya. Overnight in Sebastya Guest House

Zaytoun CIC - Celebrating ten years of fair trade with Palestine

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter www.zaytoun.org

A family harvesting their olives and a woman winnowing to separate the leaves from the fruit.

Thursday 15th October Visit Canaan Fair Trade (CFT). CFT uses the fair trade concept to empower marginalized Palestinian rural communities caught in conflict so they can sustain their livelihoods and culture. They support farmers in enhancing production procedures and product quality, building their capacities to work collectively, and to sell to international markets.

All produce from the PFTA is processed and exported via CFT.

Friday 16th October Visiting villages in the Nablus area to understand the impact of Israel’s illegal settlements on farmers, tour in the souk of Nablus’s Old City. End of your celebration meal and overnight in Sebastya Guest House

Saturday 17th October - Breakfast and tour ends. Transport will be arranged back to Jerusalem for those who want it and we will be back early enough for anyone who is catching afternoon flights. We really recommend spending an extra overnight in Jerusalem and are happy to coordinate an ICAHD tour as an optional extra for any tour participant who is interested. These tours are highly informative and help in explaining some of the complexities in Jerusalem via a local guide. (http://www.icahd.org/tours/east-jerusalem )

Cost: £565. This includes all accommodation, meals*, transport and guides ( excludes evening meal in Jerusalem on first night and optional ICAHD tour)

Additional costs: Flights, travel insurance. Please contact heather@zaytoun.org for further details. This itinerary is subject to changes based on hosts’ advice in Palestine.