Olive Harvest in Palestine: Families, the Land, and the Story Behind Our Virgin Olive Oil

Every autumn, the hills of Palestine come alive with families heading to their olive groves — children laughing, elders giving quiet instructions, the air thick with the scent of crushed leaves and freshly pressed fruit. The olive harvest isn’t just about oil; it’s about connection. It’s a celebration of deep roots, resilience, and love for the land.

At Mashjar Juthour, our community land and nature reserve outside of Ramallah, the harvest is one of the most beautiful times of year. Volunteers and families come together to pick the olives that will become our virgin olive oil — a process that’s part work, part ritual. Each olive is gathered by hand, shaken from the branches and collected in nets before being pressed locally into rich, golden oil.

This oil tells a story — of the sun and the soil, but also of endurance.

A Year of Challenges

This year, our olive yield is heartbreakingly low. A long, dry season with too little rain has left trees struggling. And beyond the climate, the reality of military occupation makes olive farming in Palestine harder every year.

Farmers face settler violence and intimidation when they go to harvest their olives. In many areas, settlers steal the fruit straight from the trees, destroying livelihoods in the process. Imagine having your entire year’s work — your source of income and your family’s tradition — stolen in front of you, with no one to protect you, and no justice to turn to.

Others have had their land confiscated entirely — olive groves that have belonged to Palestinian families for generations are taken or made inaccessible by illegal settlements and military closures.

For many, that means having to buy oil on the market, at prices that are rising fast, even as their own trees stand on occupied land. It’s a cruel irony — to have the earth you nurtured taken from you, and to have to purchase what was once your own harvest.

Resilience and Hope

And yet, Palestinian farmers continue to plant. To nurture. To harvest. The olive tree — with its deep roots and centuries-old presence — remains the ultimate symbol of Palestinian resilience. Against every hardship, communities gather each autumn to continue this sacred tradition.

How You Can Help

When you buy Handmadet Palestine’s virgin olive oil, you’re doing much more than enjoying one of the finest natural oils in the world — you’re supporting Palestinian farmers, preserving heritage, and standing in solidarity with a people determined to stay rooted in their land.

From tree to table: Or discover our limited edition set of organic Palestinian olive oil with a handcrafted ceramic bottle — a perfect gift that celebrates tradition, sustainability, and Palestinian artistry.

You can also Adopt an Olive Tree at Mashjar Juthour — your adoption helps care for the trees, sustain the land, and ensure that this vital work continues for generations to come.

Together, we can keep these groves alive — one harvest, one bottle, one act of love at a time.