Palestine Fair Trade Association General Guidelines 


 
     1) Palestine Fair Trade Association Guidelines:

Fair Price and Fair Wage:

   The price buyers need to pay for the product must be based on the cost of maintaining and harvesting the product, ensuring that every Palestinian farmer and producer receives adequate wages for their work.  The price must be of a minimum that is economically worthy of production. The criterion calls for a minimum guaranteed price that covers the cost of production and ensures a living wage for producing communities.  A living wage implies people can cover basic needs, including food, shelter, education, and health care for their families.   However, this is based on the portion or percentage the production of the specific product represents in terms of the overall income of the producer.

Democracy and Transparency:

   Palestine Fair Trade Association is committed to working under a democratic structure with maximum transparency.  Palestine Fair Trade Association has a bi-annually elected board that is made up of its members.  Palestine Fair Trade Association has an open-door policy to farmers, producers, workers, and their cooperatives.

Pre-Payment:

   Farmers and producers can often wait months to receive payment in full for their crops.  Part of the theory behind fair trade is that farmers and/or producers will be paid directly upon pick up of products to ensure that they receive adequate wage for their labor.  For some products, Palestine Fair Trade Association may require partial pre-payment.

Assist Farmers and Producers:

    In an effort to decrease costs to farmers and producers we recommend that the buyers be responsible for picking up the products directly and promptly from the farmers and producers.  This lowers any storage, marketing, and/or transportation costs to individual farmers and producers.

Long-Term Commitment:

    We encourage importers to place orders in advance so that producers can anticipate harvest sales.  We advocate importers to form long-term relationships with Canaan Fair Trade (the international Palestinian fair-trade product distributor), and try to maintain steady and long-term relationships with the farmers and producers involved in the process.  

Sustainable Development:

    We recommend that all aspects of production are done locally by Palestinians in order to create more jobs.  All other supplies required for production: bottles, boxes, labels, etc. are also to be acquired locally in Palestine.  This is an effort to support and to assist in the growth of a sustainable local economy.

Reinvest in the Community:

   Every year, Palestine Fair Trade Association reinvests in producing communities in various ways, depending on community needs.  Needs are assessed by producing communities.  We recommend that fair trading importers follow suit by reinvesting in the industries and communities they are benefiting from.

Respect for Cultural Identity:

    Everyone involved: importers, traders, farmers and producers, are expected to encourage the production and development of products based on producers’ cultural traditions and cultural identity.  Palestine Fair Trade Association is determined to protect traditional Palestinian communities in their production methods.   

      2)  Guidelines for Farmers and/or Producers:

Farming Methods:

   Farmers are required to use natural and traditional farming methods.  Palestine Fair Trade Association is committed to working with farming communities to preserve traditional farming practices and provide education regarding the most environmentally conscious farming methods.

Wages:

   In situations where farmers and/or producers hire inconsistent labor to assist in various aspects of the harvest and care-taking, special attention and care must be paid to ensure that such workers, casual, seasonal, or permanent are paid a fair wage for their services and they too share in the benefits of the fair trade process.

Co-operatives:

   For all harvest seasons we encourage collective efforts (by neighbors, extended families, a group of women, or friends, etc.) to cultivate larger farms.  This principle fosters community development beyond the harvest and increases social capital within communities.   Palestine Fair Trade Association supports the creation of networks and cooperatives in production processes.  The fair trade industry depends on cooperative production and Palestine Fair Trade Association encourages farmers to join and/or form local cooperatives.

      3)  Guidelines for Labor and Employment:

Equal Employment:

   Anyone involved in the fair trade process is required to practice equitable employment opportunities for all people.  Particular attention should be paid to the most disadvantaged groups.  Farmers and producers should ensure that all hired labor involved in the process can gain from fair trade practices.   

Labor Standards:

   Palestine Fair Trade Association follows the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 111 that pertains to ending discrimination towards workers.  The Convention rejects “any distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation.”

Labor Conditions:

   Palestine Fair Trade Association respects the labor standards set-out by the International Labor Organization and requires that all producing communities involved in any PFTA programs implement and meet the ILO Conventions Standards.  This includes ILO Conventions that restrict the use of forced labor or child labor.  Children may participate with their families in harvest and farming so long that it does not negatively impact their education.   

Workers Rights:

   Farmers and producers may not deny their workers the right to organize, join and form unions and/or federations, or create elected boards to make decisions as a whole.  Farmers and producers will ensure that their workers benefit from the fair trade process and have a chance to become educated on principles of fair trade.  Workers have equal opportunities for membership and participation in Palestine Fair Trade Association's producing cooperatives and programs.

Work Place Conditions:

   Farmers and producers are required to guarantee that all employees work under fair and safe conditions, that wages are fair and accurate according to work done and that safety precautions are taken.  All work space, equipment and machinery must be safe and free of any known health risks.  Palestine Fair Trade Association may inspect sites to ensure that such safety precautions are being taken.

      4) Environmental Guidelines:

Environmental Concern:

   All products used in the farming and general production of the crops and/or products are expected to be environmentally friendly.   This implies the use of recyclable and/or biodegradable materials whenever possible.  By supporting Palestinian traditional farming methods, that have a history of being environmentally friendly, we are working toward creating a sustainable farming tradition and industry.

Environmental Protection:

   Environmental protection and preservation of the natural environment is required of all farmers and producers.  Farmers and producers are required to monitor their natural environment and take measures to protect and preserve it in terms of farming techniques and materials.  Environmental protection entails protecting natural waters, virgin forest, erosion, and properly managing waste.

Environmental Education:

   Palestine Fair Trade Association will continue to provide education on farming, maintenance, harvesting, and environmental protection techniques.

    Fertilizers

   Farmers are required to use only natural manure as fertilizers.  No chemical fertilizers are accepted into the Palestine Fair Trade Association program.   

    Maintenance

Farmers will use hand plows, animal plows or small tractors for weed control.  No chemicals are allowed for weed control.

    Pest Control

 Farmers will use organic pest control when needed, no pesticides are permitted in the program.

Consideration of Local Environments:

   Palestine Fair Trade Association will continue to work with farmers to consider the importance of their local environments, educating about the best ways to preserve local ecosystems.  Farmers will use management systems that are appropriate and tailored to their local environments.  

Handling Practices:

   Processors and handlers should implement organic style manufacturing and handling processes in order to preserve the integrity and quality of organic products.  Such care should be taken through all levels of production such as processing, handling, transport, and storage.  Organic products are not to be mixed with non-organic products.

 5)  Trader and Distributor Guidelines:

Fair Trade Label:

   Product label should clearly specify that it is a fair trade product.  Every bottle sold through our program is expected to display the Palestine Fair Trade Association logo.

Education:

   Distributors of Palestine Fair Trade Association products should be willing to educate their customers.  Every venue is expected to make available Palestine Fair Trade Association pamphlets with distribution of products.

Payment:

  Partial pre-payments are expected to ensure that farmers receive adequate funds to continue their work and take care of their families.

Non-Discrimination:

   It is not acceptable for traders, importers, and/or exporters to make distinctions or preferences between producing communities and cooperatives on the basis of religion, political opinions, or social affiliation.  Traders who practice such discriminations will no be granted Palestine Fair Trade Association certification.

 


Palestine Fair Trade Association Olive Oil Specific Guidelines and Standards

     1) Palestine Fair Trade Association Guidelines:

Fair Price and Fair Wage:

   The price buyers need to pay for the product must be based on the cost of maintaining and harvesting the olives, ensuring that every Palestinian farmer receives adequate wages for the harvest season.  The price must be of a minimum that makes production economically feasible. The criterion calls for a minimum guaranteed price that covers the cost of production and ensures a living wage for growers.  A living wage implies people can cover basic needs, including food, shelter, education, and health care for their families.

Reinvest in the Community:

   Every year Palestine Fair Trade Association donates olive tress to small farms for the annual tree planting festival held on February 15.  This is an effort to reinvest in the olive making industry and ensure its future success. We recommend that fair trading importers follow suit by reinvesting in the industries and communities they are benefiting from.

     2)  Guidelines for Farmers and/or Producers:

Farming Methods:

   Farmers are required to use natural and traditional farming methods.  No genetically modified olives are accepted into the program. Cultivating must be done traditionally by hand picking.  Machine cultivated olives do not qualify for fair-trade.

Wages:

   Farmers who do not pick their own olives are required to pay a minimum of 1/3 of the harvest to their workers who harvest the olives in  mass years (good harvest year) and a minimum of 1/2 of the harvest in a shatoun year (off year season).  The olive seasons in Palestine are bi-annual: one season yields high production the following season yields a low production rate.  Preference is given to cooperative harvesting communities.

Co-operatives:

   For all harvest seasons we encourage collective efforts (by neighbors, extended families, a group of women, or friends, etc.) to cultivate larger farms.  This principle fosters community development beyond the harvest and increases social capital within communities.  Olive oil presses should be collectively owned and run.  Such a requirement promotes democratic and collective principles within communities- principles the fair trade process seeks to maintain.

    3) Press Guidelines:

Semi-Automatic Cold Press:

   Semi-automatic cold press owners shall collect one out of every ten parts (i.e. for every ten liters of oil the press collects one liter from the farmer).   Palestine Fair Trade Association promotes share distribution as a form of payment for press use because it allows press owners and farmers to remain on equal profit margins based on the season's productivity.

Full Automatic Press:

   Full automatic press owners shall collect one out of every fifteen parts (i.e. for every fifteen liters of oil the press collects one liter from the farmer).

Press Workers:

   If a press does not run on the basis of a worker's cooperative for the season then press owners will pay a minimum of ten kilos of olive oil per one day shift.

     4) Environmental Guidelines:

Environmental Concern:

   All products used in the farming, pressing, and general production of the olive oil are expected to be environmentally friendly.   This implies the use of recyclable, and/or biodegradable materials.  Supporting traditional farming methods, that have a history of being environmentally friendly creates a sustainable farming industry.  This can be illustrated by the existence of 1,000 year old olive trees in Palestine.

By-Products:

   All by-products of olive oil production should be arranged for reuse in some other form of production.  If there is no infrastructure already in place at certain farms or presses, producers and importers will need to implement such practices.  The low-grade oil can be used for soap; the olive pits can be dried and used for the traditional Palestinian bread baking oven, the Tabun.  No by-products should go to waste.

      5) Olive Oil Standards:

Acidity:

   All olive oil production that is part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association program must contain less than 1.2% acidity for sale in US markets and less than 0.8% acidity for EU markets.

Peroxide:

   All olive oil production that is a part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association program must contain a peroxide level below 20 for sale in EU markets.

General Quality:

   Olive Oil that is a part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association program must be free from any foreign substances and have no unusual smell, taste, or color.