Near East Foundation

After 25 years as a refugee, Mohammad Sholi returned to his home in the Palestinian village of Asira to tend the olive grove he inherited from his father. Now 50 years old and with a successful career as a pilot behind him, Mohammad has distinguished himself as the producer of the finest olive oil in the West Bank.

Mohammad first became involved in the Near East Foundation's olive sector work in 2007, one of 450 farmers who worked closely with NEF to improve and expand Palestine’s burgeoning olive oil industry. As a participant in the program, Mohammad attended workshops and training to learn how to derive the highest possible olive oil yield from his crops. He also benefitted from the equipment and tools that NEF distributed to farmers to control parasites, which often infect olive fruits during the harvest season.

Mohammad applied the techniques he learned during training and quickly learned that they were capable of producing extraordinary results. The olive oil he produces has been certified by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture as possessing the lowest levels of acid and peroxide among the oil samples they have tested. He also increased his production by 25 percent compared to famers who did not participate in the NEF program.

"I produce oil for distinct consumers who take care of their health," Mohammad says. The fame that his olive oil has received for its high ratings has allowed him to sell it throughout the area at very competitive prices, and to continue to expand his business and crops.

NEF’s work in the olive sector in Palestine has focused on six clusters of West Bank villages, including Asira, that collectively produce approximately six percent of the annual Palestinian olive crop. Many international and local organizations have worked in the Palestinian olive sector, but NEF has been particularly successful due to our unique strategies, building on long-standing partnerships with local communities. NEF has targeted all aspects of the olive oil value chain, including pre- and post-harvest procedures and marketing, in order to give the Palestinian oil producers the competitive advantage they need to succeed in international markets.