March 2009 Newsletter
Zaytoun on March 9th, 2009Dear Zaytoun customers and supporters,
Many apologies for the lateness of this newsletter – as you will see below, we have been really busy these last few weeks with many exciting things including the Fairtrade fortnight producer tour, staffing changes and as many of you have already noticed, a brand new website!
In this newsletter…
Fairtrade Fortnight News
New Website launch
Sindyanna Visit UK
Situation in Gaza
Stock levels
Changes at Zaytoun
Events - Volunteers Needed
Website: Shops/Distributors info
Website: Events info
Fairtrade Fortnight Producer Visit
Zaytoun had four visitors from Palestine with us for Fairtrade Fortnight, Taysir Arabasi Director of Zaytoun in Palestine, Nasser Abufarha Director of Canaan Fairtrade, Mohammad Issa President of the Palestine Fair Trade Producer Company and Riziq Abunasser of the Deir Istya Organic Olive Oil Cooperative.
The four attended events across the UK and Ireland and were delighted at the feedback from the public about their product and the interest in the situation for olive farmers in Palestine. The launch of the oil being Fairtrade certified has been very exciting and we are keen to support them in making sure that the opportunity to increase the market access for their products is seized.
The Palestinian olive oil was launched in the Coop supermarket during this visit. It was a fantastic moment for the farmers and Zaytoun, to see how the consumer demand for their product has grown since we started in 2004. Zaytoun is delighted that the Coop has decided to stock Palestinian olive oil. We are also keen to keep promoting Zaytoun labeled products as we feel that there is still much more work to be done in supporting the Palestinian farmers and it is the sales of product with the Zaytoun label which enables us to keep running.
Fairtrade Fortnight Media Coverage
Fairtrade Fortnight was a really busy one for Zaytoun with the launch of the world’s first-ever FLO-certified olive oil and olives! We’ve been working with a communications agency in Brighton, Neocreative, who created a media pack for us and got us a mention in lots of different publications – mostly newspapers including a piece in the Guardian. For a full list of our media coverage links please email contact@zaytoun.org
We’re hoping that over the next few months the story of the world-first Fairtrade olives and oil will be covered by the periodicals, especially the food-focussed ones. This will help support our sales to the wholesalers, who in turn supply many of the delicatessens and health food shops around the country.
Some of the coverage we have received is listed below:
Fairtrade Foundation Newsletter
www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources/fair_comment/spring_2009/olive_oil_the_lifeblood_of_palestine.aspx
Guardian Article
www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/23/fairtrade-olive-oil-palestine
Regional Media
www.midweekherald.co.uk/midweekherald/news/story.aspx?brand=MDWOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsmdw&itemid=DEED17%20Feb%202009%2013%3A06%3A10%3A000
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Coop-party-sponsor-olive-trees-West-Bank/article-704688-detail/article.html
Others
www.greenevents.co.uk/devon/new-view.php?new_id=3919
www.ethical-junction.org/ethicalpulse/index.php?/archives/1469-Launch-of-worlds-first-Fairtrade-Olive-Oil.html
www.islamicarea.com/blog/view/id_863
http://uk.oneworld.net/article/view/162295/1/6295
www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/38847/2009/01/23-142412-1.htm
www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/CJAL-7PKNP4?OpenDocument
New website launch
To go with our new product branding and the Fairtrade certification, we’ve relaunched our website. We have been working with communications agency Neocreative on this and hope you like the new look as much as we do.
Several of you have noticed some glitches with the new site. We’re working on fixing these as fast as we can and we’re replacing the old price list with a downloadable order form. Please bear with us, and do let us know what you think of the site as a whole.
We’d also like to draw your attention to the ‘Resources’ pages under the ‘Get involved’ section – whilst these links have yet to be updated, you will eventually be able to download pictures, reports and flyers from this page for your own events.
Churches Support Zaytoun
www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=71183
Zaytoun Olive Oil has always been popular with the churches and we are pleased to see an increase in support from across the country. Zaytoun oil has been used by Southwark Cathedral at their annual Maundy Thursday Chrism Mass and all baptism and confirmation services for the past three years. Canon Andrew Nunn, Subdean of the Cathedral, a Fairtrade place of worship for five years, had the oil recommended to him by another Fairtrade church in the diocese. He says that its use at the annual mass is ‘very symbolic’ and a ‘great communal witness to Fairtrade’.
Zaytoun has also received an enquiry from Rochester cathedral. The Canon of Rochester cathedral was recommended Palestinian olive oil from Zaytoun by Southwark Cathedral and will also now use this for Maundy Thursday and baptisms. Arundel and Brighton Cathedral and St John’s seminary near Guildford have also used Zaytoun oil. Why not check if your local church would consider supporting the holy land by using Palestinian olive oil?
Sindyanna Due to Visit UK
Zaytoun supplier, Sindyanna of Galilee, is unique organisation based on co-operation between Palestinian and Jewish people, based on a mutual belief in equality and Palestinian right to self-determination. Sindyanna has a strong track record in providing women with equal chances and advancing the economic situation of Arab women within Israel. Sindyanna representatives will be visiting the UK in April and would like to meet with: fair trade wholesale, retail and consumer organisations; trade unions; media; women’s organisations; and all people with an interest in the Middle East. For further information email jobird@cooptel.net
Situation in Gaza
Human Rights activists working with the Free Gaza Movement and the International Solidarity Movement have been putting out numerous reports recently about the continued Israeli aggression against ordinary Gazans, including the targeting of Palestinian farmers. Zaytoun have been adding many of the entries which are well documented, onto the Journal section of our website. Please see http://www.zaytoun.org/journal/. We ask our supporters to continue doing all you can to protest the continued targeting of innocent Palestinian farmers being injured and killed whilst trying to maintain their livelihoods.
Zaytoun Stock Levels Update
Zaytoun are out of stock of 750ml Olive Oil bottles. However we still have 500ml BBE Dec 08 olive oil available on half-price offer.
A new shipment of Medjoul Dates will be in stock in March.
We now have some top-up stock of Olives and are expecting more plain soaps.
Changes at Zaytoun
Zaytoun’s new team member Chris Campbell is now working with us, whilst existing members of the Zaytoun team will be going on maternity leave. To make this transition as smooth as possible we ask that all our customers/distributors please make sure they are putting their orders through via the Zaytoun main phone line 0845 345 4887 or preferably to the email address order@zaytoun.org
Peterborough & London Events – Volunteers Needed
We urgently need volunteers for the following events – if you can help please email contact@zaytoun.org with your contact details.
Meeting organised by Peterborough Trades Union Council on 12th March 2009. The location is - The Great Northern Hotel, directly opposite Peterborough railway station.
The meeting will begin at 8pm, but is preceded by the annual general meeting of the local UNISON health branch at 7:30pm, therefore we would need a volunteer to arrive and set up a stall for 7pm.
Alternative Economic Summit to be held at the University of East London on 1st April. See www.altg20.org.uk for further details.
Charity craft fair in aid of Gaza on April 19th at The Mosaic Rooms, A.M.Qattan Foundation, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Rd, London, SW5 OSW. 10am till 4pm.
Website: Shops/Distributors
Zaytoun’s new website includes two pages dedicated to contact information for our distributors. If you are a Zaytoun distributor, please check the page www.zaytoun.org/distribution/retail and make sure your contact information is correct and up to date. Any changes should be emailed to contact@zaytoun.org
Website: Events Page
Many of you have noticed our new ‘Events’ page. If you are involved in an event where there will be Zaytoun produce on sale be sure to email us with details. Please email contact@zaytoun.org. The Events page can be found here: www.zaytoun.org/get-involved/events
Latest products
For our latest products see www.zaytoun.org/products/catalogue
Thanks for your ongoing support,
ZAYTOUN CIC - fairly traded produce from Palestine
