The Strawberry King

A Palestinian farmer shares his secrets to success: love, technology, and a little help along the way

Story by Sahar Kalifa, USAID and Kelly Ramundo, USAID | Photos and video by Bobby Neptune for USAID
June 2015

ONE OF TWENTY

Strawberries are not new to the West Bank. But growing them is.

Osama Abu Al-Rub is one of only 20 strawberry farmers from a population of nearly 2.5 million.

He owns a farm in Qabatiya, in Jenin Governorate, with his wife Ezdihar and his daughter Hanin.

“My family is a blessing from God,” he says.

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A bunch of red strawberries resting in the palm of a hand.
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A man and a woman inspect a plant

APPLE (OR STRAWBERRY) OF HIS EYE

Hanin is 20 years old and studies agronomy at the local university, following in her father’s footsteps.

The success of the strawberry farm has allowed Osama to send Hanin to university.

“I am so proud of you for continuing your studies,” he tells her.

“I admire my dad for his kindness, and because he can do anything he sets his mind to,” says Hanin.

By all accounts, they have the best strawberries around.

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A man and a woman inspect a plant
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Osama Abu Al-Rub walks and talks to his daughter Hanin at their strawberry farm in Qabatiya, in Jenin Governorate, Palestine.

BUT NOT AT THE BEGINNING

Osama started growing strawberries six years ago, in the traditional way.

He planted his strawberries in the ground, where they were susceptible to the whims of nature, to poor soil conditions, to pests, and to imprecise irrigation.

His yields were not that good. His strawberries were not that delectable.

In 2013, Osama became one of a handful of West Bank growers to receive USAID support to boost the strawberry sector and other targeted parts of the Palestinian economy.

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Back of a man's head as he looks over a large field of plants.

HANGING ON

With USAID assistance, Osama lifted his fruit off the ground. He started using greenhouses and a special, isolated soil.

This protects the strawberries against the elements and allows him to better monitor the nutrients that feed his crop.

He uses just a fraction of the pesticides he did before.

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Osama Abu Al-Rub, smiles as he stands in his strawberry fields on his farm in Qabatiya, in Jenin Governorate, Palestine.
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Man standing at a grey computer device.

OK COMPUTER

He also began using computerized irrigation which dramatically decreases the amount of water he uses - a precious resource in the West Bank.

“All plants need taking care of, and strawberries need more care than any other plants,” Osama says.

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Rows of strawberry plants.

BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Now, even though only half of Osama’s strawberry plants are hanging, they make up around 80 percent of what he harvests and sells. “I am expanding every year,” he says.


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Smiling seated woman handling strawberries.

FLYING OFF THE SHELVES

Osama and Hanin sell their strawberries to local fruit venders throughout the region.

And they can barely keep up with demand.

“Strawberries do grow in our area very well and we have proven that.”

Osama is proud of what he grows. He says his strawberries stand out from the competition.

“The ones in supermarkets rot on the same day if they don‘t get sold. Our strawberries live longer because they haven‘t been treated with chemicals.”

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Two men holding a big box of strawberries.
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A hand placing a sticker on a box of strawberries.
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A man and a woman removing boxes of strawberries from the back of a vehicle.
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Osama Abu Al-Rub brings his fruit to the fruit shop co-owned by Jihad Al Shalabi in Jenin Governorate, Palestine.
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Boxes of packaged strawberries are stacked up in the back of Osama Abu Al-Rub's van ready to be brought to the market.
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A stall full of packages of strawberries.
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Smiling man with crossed arms in front of a fruit stand.

“THE MOST WANTED FRUIT”

Jihad Al Shalabi is the 25-year-old co-proprietor of a fruit shop in Jenin that purchases Osama’s sweet fruit.

He and his cousin Ala’a buy around 10 cartons each day during harvest season.

The cousins can barely keep Osama’s strawberries on the shelf.

“It’s the most wanted fruit.”

PAYING IT FORWARD

Thanks to his new knowledge and technologies, Osama’s strawberries are flourishing.

His farm is a model for the next generation of Palestinian farmers and agronomists.

A group of Hanin’s classmates at Al-Quds Open University visit the farm at least once a term to study the modern methods that Osama uses to grow his most lucrative crop.

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A man and a woman inspect a strawberry plant
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Five women and one man squatting in a circle on the ground. The man is speaking to the women.

HONESTY AND CLARITY

Each day at lunchtime, Osama and his family eat together as a family.

“We understand each other and our life is based on honesty and clarity,” he says. “We work in our field and we love our work, we love each other.”

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Plates of steaming hot food
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People sitting at a table and eating

DREAMS COME TRUE

They also love strawberries and what they might mean for the West Bank and beyond.

A thriving agriculture sector helps boost the economy and provides more job opportunities.

“The strawberry production in my farm means that I contribute to the national economy,” says Osama. “I feel so special.”

He could not be prouder of Hanin for pursuing the family business.

“I will do anything to make your dreams come true,” Osama tells her. “Especially with your studies.”

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Two woman and a man smiling surrounded by strawberry plants
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Closeup of hands holding a strawberry

About This Story

In the West Bank, agriculture employs around one out of 10 people but is still an underdeveloped sector. USAID, through its Compete project, helps Palestinian farmers introduce new crops with high export potential, including strawberries, red potatoes, broccoli, mangoes, fruit trees and grapes.

Osama Abu Al-Rub is one of only 20 strawberry farmers in the West Bank. In 2013, he began receiving USAID assistance to grow more and better strawberries with less water, fertilizer and pesticides. USAID provided hanging systems and soilless culture; introduced computerized, automated irrigation systems; and connected Osama with a Palestinian agribusiness.

Now, even though only half of Osama’s strawberry plants are grown with these modern methods, they make up around 80 percent of what he harvests and sells.

In two years, the Compete project trained 1,700 Palestinian farmers; and in 2014, the Palestinian agriculture sector increased the value of exports by $24 million compared to the previous year. Along with agriculture, the Compete project also targets growth in tourism, information communications technology, and stone and marble.

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