Women gathering olives, Morocco

Olive trees dot much of the Mediterranean littoral and sufficiently watered areas inland. Because it does not require much moisture and yields a very high value crop, olive cultivation provides one of the major bases of national economies. Men beat the trees with long sticks or break the branches to knock down the ripe olives. The women then separate the olives from other parts of the tree. It is very much a group activity, with roles largely determined by gender.

Welch, Claude Emerson

State University of New York at Buffalo

2006-12

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Moroccan

Mediterranean culture

Fès (Morocco)

A typical day during olive-harvesting season

2007-07-13

Welch-Ludwig Collection

PSC001