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Higher Grounds explores FT olive oil
The world of Fair Trade just keeps on growing...and getting tastier! In a recent trip to Palestine, Higher Grounds' Chris Treter explored the ins and outs of Fair Trade olive oil that is being produced by over 1,700 small farmers in the regions of Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin. By empowering rural communities through traditional farming methods and sustainable trade partnerships, Fair Trade olive oil is slowly but surely making a difference in the lives of Palestinian farmers.
Photograph by Atef Safadi/EPA
Chris Treter of Higher Grounds Trading Co. just got back from an adventure to the West Bank in the Palestinian Territory to meet with olive growers and learn about the first fair trade and organic olive oil cooperative. Growing to nearly 3000 years and dotting the countryside, the trees are essential to a sustainable income for many Palestinians. Under the guise of the Palestinian Fair Trade Association over 1700 olive growers from Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin are banding together to sell direct to regional distributors throughout the U.S. Currently they are selling to Dr. Bronner's for use in their soap and work with Canaan Fair Trade, the company responsible for building their processing plant. If all goes well, Higher Grounds will begin selling Higher Grounds brand Fair Trade and Organic Olive Oil marketed as from Palestine in grocery stores throughout the midwest beginning in 1st quarter 2010. Higher Grounds also will expand their fair trade tourism department with tours to Palestine in June 2010 (focused on the occupation and culinary feasts of the region) and November 2010 (for the harvest gathering). "Working with the growers of Palestine is not only an act of fair business practices but also one of solidarity, in which through fair trade, these growers are helping change the perception of Palestine in grocery stores throughout the country," says crazy man Chris Treter. He also adds, "Bring your asses with me to Palestine for next years' harvest and lets import a ton of it in barrels and bottle it up here at Food for Thought, a local organic processor!" For more 
information about the current issues facing the West Bank and the role the Palestinian Fair Trade Association and Canaan Fair Trade is having to bring sustainability to the region watch the PBS documentary here: http://video.pbs.org/video/1178646042/
