Fair Trade Lebanon is born out of the will of a few Lebanese to change the lives of the most disadvantaged people in rural Lebanon. Having noticed an under-employed agricultural potential as well as some unique traditional skills in the regions, they chose fair trade as a means of building export opportunities for small producers and for food-processing cooperatives.
In 2005, a contact was established with a French importer, Artisanat Sel, who had agreed to accompany our adventure. This initial partnership was, in fact, very decisive for the establishment of the Fair Trade Lebanon association, officially founded in March 2006.
Ambassador of the Lebanese regional specialities, olive oil is recognized as the "flagship" product of Fair Trade Lebanon. Available in an array of oils flavoured with various Mediterranean herbs, it symbolizes the constant pursuit of quality of Lebanese producers and carries the message of peace and dialogue of our country.
Today, Fair Trade Lebanon is the leading actor of fair trade in Lebanon. Our goal is to become a unifying network of domestic producers (cooperatives and small family farms) willing to participate in the dynamics of fair trade.
Lebanese cuisine is considered excellent, at the four corners of the world; Lebanese diaspora thoroughly commits itself and fits right into all countries. But often enough, emigrants miss their homeland’s sun and grandma’s recipes.
Besides, Lebanese villages abound of culinary treasures that might disappear. As a result of war, but also rural exodus, recipes get lost, and the culinary traditions as well. Because of the economic situation, people, especially youngsters, are leaving their own towns and then the country.
Whereas…if they believe in it, they can revive the unique lands that they possess.
- FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to identify the Lebanese regional produces; FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to contribute to informing all about the richness and the uniqueness of this Soil.
- FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to make it possible for everyone –especially for the Lebanese diaspora- to purchase an exceptional product that reminds them of the country, the village, the sun and the Mediterranean.
- FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to offer a viable economic model to the farmers and the women’s cooperatives in the distant regions.
- FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to fight against desertification, rural exodus, poverty, and mostly, against despair.
- FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants to introduce to the whole world those men and women who struggle hard to promote their ancestral skills, their story.
FAIR TRADE LEBANON wants the Lebanese regional specialities to be everyone’s pride.
