Happy World Olive Tree Day!

Established by UNESCO in 2019, World Olive Tree Day is celebrated every year on November 26.

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2025

This World Olive Tree Day, we recognize the crises devastating olive trees across Lebanon and Palestine.

Every autumn, olive trees set the rhythm of life across Lebanon and Palestine. Families gather under the silvery leaves, spreading nets and pressing olives into oil that sustains them through winter. The olive harvest is more than an agricultural season; it is an act of continuity, belonging, resilience and hope. But this year, that rhythm has faltered. Olive oil, a cornerstone of Lebanese and Palestinian cuisine and a symbol of their heritage, is facing a critical moment.

From the mountainsides of northern Lebanon to the groves of Gaza, a combination of war, drought, and displacement has cast a long shadow over one of the most symbolic harvests in the Mediterranean. What used to be a season of abundance has become one of loss and uncertainty.

Read more about how conflict and climate change have taken a toll on olive harvests in Lebanon and Palestine.

2023

Happy Olive Tree Day! Olive oil production and olive trees are such a special part of Palestinian heritage. Our team member Sulieman explains more.

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