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When we first met at Cornell University, something that instantly drew us together was our shared love and passion for Lebanon, a country we were both deeply connected to, but no longer lived in. Over the years we both felt strongly that we needed to do something that would give back to this beautiful country with so much potential—but so little to show for it. Something that always bothered us was that both our families had been olive farmers and olive oil producers, but that we didn’t know much—if anything—about this process. We felt it was the same for many people of our generation and our parents’ generation, and that if we didn’t do something soon, this beautiful tradition would die out. We were frustrated that our families’ olive groves were either being sold off, left abandoned and overgrown, or being given to strangers to work and manage—strangers who did a poor job taking care of the land. We asked ourselves: Why were we buying Italian, Spanish and Tunisian Olive Oil, when Lebanon produces such delicious Olive Oil? Why were we always taking bottles of wine to friends’ houses for dinner, when we could take a beautiful bottle of Lebanese Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Why couldn’t we figure out a way to manage our own land, create a superior Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a gorgeous bottle, and bring it to market?

Starting THE BAAL PROJECT was something that had been on our minds for many years but had always been put on the backburner with our hectic lives in New York City. But after the devastating August 4th Beirut explosion and economic collapse that took place in Lebanon in 2020, we decided that it was time to do our part to try to give back to Lebanon and protect this sacred family tradition.

With these questions and thoughts in our minds, we decided to become 6th generation olive farmers and launched THE BAAL PROJECT with the following goals:

• To preserve Lebanon’s historic Olive Oil production heritage and support traditional sustainable farming practices;

• To ensure our olive groves remain fruitful and profitable, preventing further urbanization and deforestation in Lebanon;

• To help create a viable livelihood in Lebanon for all the individuals involved in our Olive Oil and Olive Oil Soap production;

• And of course, to put Lebanese Olive Oil on the map as a delicious, premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

With each bottle of premium BAAL Extra Virgin Olive Oil, each bar of BAAL Olive Oil Soap or each pouch of BAAL Soap Flakes that you purchase, you are helping us achieve these goals.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support! Shukran!

- Noura & Gus