We are a group of friends with a love for edible fungi. In 2014, we started the first and, until today, only relatively large-scale mushroom farm in Palestine. The idea for our project began over a BBQ, when we wanted to grill fresh mushrooms but could only find Israeli grown options. Israel imposes a military occupation that controls every single bit of our lives.
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So, on that fateful day, despite our hunger, we did not want to consume the Israeli mushrooms and could not see a reason why we couldn’t grow our own. So, we embarked on a journey of research, education, and training and set up the farm. We called it ‘Amoro', a name inspired by stories of the Amorites people who lived in Palestine around 2000 to 1600 BC.
Importing a top-quality spore infused compost from the Netherlands, we began producing closed-cap white mushrooms. Our staff consisted of women from local vulnerable communities.
It didn’t take long for Amoro mushrooms to become a hit; people were eating all that we produced. And right when we thought about expanding and making our own compost, our reality of living under occupation hit home.
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Israeli authorities began to stall our compost imports, which must go through Israeli ports. Four containers containing compost were stalled at the Ashdod sea port an average of 49 days each time costing us more than $60,000 in port fees only. It was a clear targeting of our farm. We imported from the Netherlands, with whom Israel has very strong trade relations. We also bought from the same source Israeli mushroom farms buy from, but while Israeli farms continued to produce mushrooms with support and subsidy from their government, our production was stalled and our losses accumulated.
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We wrote to the port authorities through our lawyer each time but received no answer. We are now developing our legal challenge to what we believe are arbitrary restrictions imposed on us by Israel. It is a long process and in the meantime we need to continue to produce to maintain the farm.
We are asking your help to make up for some of what we lost in port fees. Help us raise $30,000 which we will use to:
1- Build a compost storing space (refrigerated) that will help us mitigate any similar obstacles we may face in the future and allow production continuity. This costs around $10,000
2- Ensure proper maintenance of the farm including by upgrading filters, sensors, humidifiers, growing nets, and pulling wench. These upgrades will ensure that we produce top quality and highly competitive product. All will cost around $10,000
3- Buy a steam boiler to ensure best hygienic practice, costs around $10,000
With your help we can keep producing, satisfying Palestinian love for mushrooms, maintaining independence, and investing in a better future for Amoro and our communities.
Please donate any amount, every little helps.
Please do get in touch, we will be more than happy to answer your questions or just chat with you about Amoro