Palestine and Israel Harvest Tour
Fair Trade Olives & Middle Eastern Cuisine in the Land of Milk & Honey
Oct. 30th – Nov. 6th, 2010
Join Higher Grounds Trading Co. on an adventure through the historic valleys and hillsides of The West Bank and Israel. We’ll learn about the ancient history, culture, and religions of the people and spend time with our Fair Trade olive-growing partners. The Palestinian Fair Trade Association (PFTA) —an organized collective of more than 1,700 small farms—is the first and only fair trade and organic olive oil project in the world. The PFTA and Canaan Fair Trade, who are our partners in this project, are being heralded as a major accomplishment toward peace in the region by the U.s. department of state.
Participants on this tour will have the opportunity to experience the reality of olive growers and learn about the association’s exciting projects. The delegation will meet with organic farmers, women’s fair trade artisan cooperatives, fair trade olive co-ops, community elders, and workers for economic rights and peace. We’ll also attend the pfta’s olive harvest festival where farmers, representatives of cooperatives, fair trade distributors, and international volunteers gather together to share information, learn from each other and celebrate the harvest. See the production facility where tree fruit becomes golden oil, share in the traditional feast of palestinian delicacies with farmers and international groups. Meet the people, listen to the poetry and music, and join in the dance. There is much to experience and celebrate—the good fruit of the earth, cooperative and equitable working relationships, economic progress, steps towards sustainability, and international support and solidarity—and you are invited.
TrIp highlights include:
* Visiting the old city in Jerusalem to learn about one of the most important historic sites to christian, Jewish and muslim faiths
* Enjoying traditional homemade meals and spending nights in the home of palestinian olive growers
* Participating in the olive harvest with a palestinian olive growing family
* Meeting with israeli and palestinian people working toward lasting peace in the region
* Meeting some of the women involved in the cooperative movement
* Music and food among the olive groves with 1,000 olive growers and their families
* Hiking in the West Bank olive hills
* Swimming in the sea of galilee
* Seeing local art, including works by world- famous graffiti artist Bansky
Cost: $1,400 trip cost includes double occupancy lodging, two meals a day, translations, guides, donations to each organization and community we visit, and in-country transportation. Contact Chris Treter at 231.922.9009 or tours@highergroundstrading.com for more information.
About FaIr Trade: Fair trade certification empowers farmers and farm workers by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. for more information about our fair- trade partnerships, philosophies on sustainability, and to learn about our company, please visit highergroundstrading.com
Oct. 30th – Nov. 6th, 2010
Join Higher Grounds Trading Co. on an adventure through the historic valleys and hillsides of The West Bank and Israel. We’ll learn about the ancient history, culture, and religions of the people and spend time with our Fair Trade olive-growing partners. The Palestinian Fair Trade Association (PFTA) —an organized collective of more than 1,700 small farms—is the first and only fair trade and organic olive oil project in the world. The PFTA and Canaan Fair Trade, who are our partners in this project, are being heralded as a major accomplishment toward peace in the region by the U.s. department of state.
Participants on this tour will have the opportunity to experience the reality of olive growers and learn about the association’s exciting projects. The delegation will meet with organic farmers, women’s fair trade artisan cooperatives, fair trade olive co-ops, community elders, and workers for economic rights and peace. We’ll also attend the pfta’s olive harvest festival where farmers, representatives of cooperatives, fair trade distributors, and international volunteers gather together to share information, learn from each other and celebrate the harvest. See the production facility where tree fruit becomes golden oil, share in the traditional feast of palestinian delicacies with farmers and international groups. Meet the people, listen to the poetry and music, and join in the dance. There is much to experience and celebrate—the good fruit of the earth, cooperative and equitable working relationships, economic progress, steps towards sustainability, and international support and solidarity—and you are invited.
TrIp highlights include:
* Visiting the old city in Jerusalem to learn about one of the most important historic sites to christian, Jewish and muslim faiths
* Enjoying traditional homemade meals and spending nights in the home of palestinian olive growers
* Participating in the olive harvest with a palestinian olive growing family
* Meeting with israeli and palestinian people working toward lasting peace in the region
* Meeting some of the women involved in the cooperative movement
* Music and food among the olive groves with 1,000 olive growers and their families
* Hiking in the West Bank olive hills
* Swimming in the sea of galilee
* Seeing local art, including works by world- famous graffiti artist Bansky
Cost: $1,400 trip cost includes double occupancy lodging, two meals a day, translations, guides, donations to each organization and community we visit, and in-country transportation. Contact Chris Treter at 231.922.9009 or tours@highergroundstrading.com for more information.
About FaIr Trade: Fair trade certification empowers farmers and farm workers by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. for more information about our fair- trade partnerships, philosophies on sustainability, and to learn about our company, please visit highergroundstrading.com
Many images on this site are courtesy of photojournalist Gary L. Howe.