Organic Farmers’ Market returns to Bay Avenue

The Organic Farmers’ Market is back in Bay Avenue for its 12^th season on Friday mornings, providing a weekly platform for consumers to buy freshly sourced local and organic produce from a carefully curated selection of trusted local farmers and vendors.

This year’s edition of the Organic Farmers’ Market is being held in partnership with the Farmers Souq initiative of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in collaboration with Arad Group and Dubai Municipality. The campaign seeks to support the country’s agricultural sector and producers, offer farmers an opportunity to reach end consumers directly and foster consumer confidence in local produce planted according to international standards of organic produce.

The market opens from 8am until 2pm at Bay Avenue Park every Friday until April 9, 2021, with Integrated Green Resources, Modern Organic Farm and Rashid Organic Farms, Dima Farms, Neger Farm among other local producers selling a wide range of fresh and organic fruit and vegetables weekly direct to the consumers from around 20 different stalls each week.

Other products, such as honey, herbs and spices, coffee, ice cream and oil, will also be available directly from a number of different brands, including Balqees Honey, Astraea Olive Products, Revolution Real and 100 Café.

Engineer Mohammed Al Dhanhani, Director of the Agriculture Development and Health Department at MOCCAE, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of food security, and the importance of incentivizing local agriculture, to increase its produce to reach food self-sufficiency and ensure the agility and continuity of strong food supply chain for the resilience of nations at times of crises. Therefore, MOCCAE views boosting local agricultural production as one of its priorities.”

He added: “As part of its efforts, the Ministry, in collaboration with its strategic partners, has launched the Farmers Souq initiative that aims to promote local food products to customers in the UAE, which enhances consumers trust and increase the local produce competitiveness. In addition to being fresh from the farm, homegrown produce has a low carbon footprint, as it does not have to travel far to reach the end consumer, combining health and environmental benefits. With its focus on fresh, local and organic products, and a 12-year successful track record, the Bay Avenue Farmers’ Market provides an ideal platform to introduce Farmers Souq to the public.”