Heather Masoud & Catherine Pawson (Zaytoun on Food, Resistance & Solidarity) | Ep 46

In Episode 46 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Heather Masoud and Catherine Pawson, the visionary co-founders of Zaytoun, a pioneering social enterprise that launched the world’s first Fairtrade certified olive oil in 2009. For over two decades, Zaytoun has supported Palestinian farmers through ethical trade and solidarity, while celebrating the deep cultural heritage of Palestinian food. Zaytoun is more than a brand—it’s a movement grounded in economic resistance. Through direct partnerships with suppliers in Palestine, they’ve offered high-quality Palestinian products to the UK market, helping to sustain communities living under military occupation. From olive oil to maftoul, their work uplifts both land and people. Heather brings a background in natural resource management, while Catherine’s journey began through Arabic and Islamic studies, giving her the linguistic and cultural foundation to connect deeply with West Asia—commonly referred to as the Middle East. In this episode, Heather and Catherine reflect on two decades of solidarity work, the challenges of building ethical supply chains under occupation, and the joy and resilience embedded in Palestinian culinary heritage. Zaytoun’s Work:🌿 Zaytoun Official Website→ https://www.zaytoun.uk🛒 Shop Palestinian Products→ https://zaytoun.uk/products/Zaytoun on Social Media:Instagram → https://instagram.com/zaytoun_cicBluesky → @zaytouncic.bsky.socialFacebook → https://facebook.com/ZaytounCICEnlightenment Podcast Social Media:https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #Zaytoun #FairtradePalestine #PalestinianOliveOil #PalestinianFarmers #HeatherMasoud #CatherinePawson #PalestinianHeritage #CulinaryResistance #BuyPalestinian #EconomicJustice #FoodSovereignty #PalestinianVoices #DecolonizeTrade #JusticeForPalestine #FairTradeNotAid