In the heart of Khan Younis City in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian farmers flock to the local market to sell various kinds of olives and olive oil, announcing a new season of joy and blessing.

The market, which sells the finest kinds of olives and olive oil, has become a central market that has been held annually for several decades.

The market opens with the start of the olive season in mid-September until the end of November. In two opposite rows, sellers offer their best goods to buyers.

The Palestinian olive trader Mohammed Abu Jazar, 46, said that he has been in the market for 15 years, which has earned him considerable experience in identifying olives and olive oil of high and poor quality.

Abu Jazar said that the olive season this year had a relatively weak start, expecting the demand to increase in the coming days.

The Gaza Strip is known for growing three types of olives: Chemlali, Souri and K18, Abu Jazar noted, adding that although the Gaza Strip people prefer the oil taken from the Souri olives, the oil extracted from the K18 olive is better and healthier.

The prices depend on the olive oil's type and purity. The Souri oil is the most expensive; a gallon is sold for 85 to 95 Jordanian dinars. A gallon of K18 oil is sold for 60 to 70 Jordanian dinars, while a gallon of Chemlali oil is sold for 70 to 85 Jordanian dinars.

The Gazans prefer the Souri olives and use them for pickling and oil extraction, while the Chemlali and K18 olives are mainly used for oil production.

 

Source: The Palestinian Information Center