Economic Development as Resistance
Today we visited Canaan Fair Trade, which produces, markets and distributes organic olive oil, wheat and almonds grown by Palestinian family farmers.
Fida Abdullah, the Canaan Account Manager, gave us a tour of the production plant and she told us about it’s history.
Until Canaan partnered with the Palestinian Fair Trade Association (PFTA) olive oil farmers were not receiving a fair share of the products of their labor. The market value of their labor has since more than tripled, and what farmers are paid is tied to that rising value. More than 1,800 farmers are now part of this amazing project!
All of this reminds me of Organic Valley, the organic dairy cooperative that I work for in Wisconsin. Both exemplify what farmers and workers can accomplish when they band together.
The production facility is impressive - large crates of olives are dumped into a holding tank where conveyors move them through washing, pressing and packaging operations.
Jobs are created for Palestinians on that production line as well as in quality control, research, distribution and administration. Valuable skills are learned in this process.
Why is this a form of resistance? Because it keeps family farmers on their land and their rural communities strong. Much of the struggle here is centered around land.
Can Israel push Palestinians off theirs and into the cities through control of water, harassment and detours? Or will Palestinians keep their land and their way of life?
Political struggle is essential. But so too is economic development.
