Advantages of purchasing fresh, organic, local produce in UAE

Fresh, organic, local produce at affordable prices. How often do you purchase directly from farmers and support a refreshingly non-commercial initiative?

It's 8.30 on a Friday morning and I am up and about. With my jute bag in tow, I am at The Farmers' Market on The Terrace, Business Bay. And, I am not alone. There are at least 50 of us. More, if you counted the fluffy beings lazing under the sun. Plus, there are children. When not playing in the park, they're asking 'real' questions of 'real' farmers, as one seven-year-old tells me. He is as thrilled as I am. Until today, he had not seen really tiny okra, very red tomatoes, and so many green leaves (on one table, in one place). "He grows these," he tells me, pointing at Farmer Badri. A weekly event, in its eighth season, the Market has brought together 13 (from last year's eight) local farmers and food artisans. The numbers indicate the rising interest in growing, buying, and eating local, fresh produce.
"We have increased the number of participants in terms of local vegetables, fruits, poultry, and dairy producers, while maintaining our strict access policy. This is a community initiative, which means the farmers don't have to pay to participate. The goal is to educate people on the availability of locally grown products - eggs, coffee, cheese, honey, zucchini blossom, and more," says André François Gerschel, Director Of Operations, Baker & Spice, Dubai. Yael Mejia, a Farmers' Market champion recalls, "The guiding principal of the Baker & Spice kitchen required me to source for local, regional produce. I spent a year getting the system in place and managed to associate with three farms." The guests were surprised to learn that the food was cooked with direct farm-supplied produce. Yael was working as a food consultant for the brand. "Their disbelief left me shocked and pointed towards the need to strengthen the local food system. We hosted the first market and 400 people turned up!" The rest, as they say, is history. After having run the Market for seven seasons, Yael moved back to Europe last year and is now working on setting up a farm, "to grow my own food."
As for me, each Friday, I tend to (over) buy. The beauties on offer include red radish, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and greens (spinach, parsley, coriander, lettuce et al). "The farmers continue to grow new things in line with the demand of the customers. I've seen purple carrots, pak choi, and patty pan squash (this season) among other things. Plus fruit, including melons. There is locally made cheese and organic goats' milk on the Deena Farms' stall," says Sally Prosser, an avid supporter of the initiative. "I never miss a market. I was lucky enough to accompany the farmers on a trip to Rajasthan, where they went to tour organic farms on an information exchange programme."
Other than veggies, I recommend bottles of fresh jams in flavours like plum, cranberry, and green fig. Love honey? Sample the flavours at the stall by Balqees Honey. I tasted (and bought) olives from Astraea that come straight from her family's olive grove in Greece. In addition, take home a plant for your kitchen shelf, home garden or work desk. You can pick up two flowerpots for just Dh5 from the stall by Slow Living. Plus, there are fruits, veggies, and herbs - both seeds and saplings. Demonstrations by the chefs from five-star Hotel Taj Dubai and a stall by Slow Food Dubai are the other regular features. "We have always embraced local produce and believe in reducing the carbon footprint of the world. We engage with the producers and consumers alike and do weekly demos showcasing the fabulous produce and share a few techniques to utilise them in the best possible way," says Chef Jitin Joshi, Executive Chef, Taj Dubai.
Interestingly, over the seasons the market has emerged as a much-loved place for families and friends to catch up on a weekend morning. There is locally roasted Ethiopian coffee from Boon and fresh lemonade and sugarcane juice from The Farmhouse. You can enjoy brekkie. spinach feta pie or a tuna sandwich from Bakers & Spice. 
It goes without saying that it is one of my favourite seasonal activities. André sums up why many like me don't mind waking up early on a Friday morning. "Flavour, variety and price. We are the only actual farmers market in the UAE with real local farmers. Five years ago, there were very few things, now there are nearly 120 items from bread to eggs and cheese to veggies."
Tip: While the farmers will be happy to provide a plastic bag for your purchase, we advise carrying your own reuseable cloth bag. Also, they won't cringe when you ask for a discount, however, it would be a good idea to not haggle and thus support the community initiative.
purva@khaleejtimes.com
 
 
 
 

• Food and Dining