Thousands of fresh food lovers flocked to the Budaiya Botanical Garden yesterday as the 13th edition of the highly-anticipated Bahraini Farmers Market officially opened.
Bahrainis and expatriates joined visitors from neighbouring Gulf states to enjoy strolling through the lanes of luscious produce including colourful vegetables plucked from the soil only hours earlier, as well as fruits and local honey. Pretty plants, hand-crafted wood items and hand-woven baskets were also on display.
An opening ceremony was held in the presence of National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) secretary-general Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority chief executive officer Sara Buhiji and other officials, who toured the market alongside the keen shoppers.
The event was organised by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, in partnership with NIAD.
“I have been involved with this project since the very beginning,” Shaikha Maram told the GDN, expressing her pride in how popular the concept had grown. “We started as a very humble event compared to what it has become today.
“The variety on offer and the level of competition has evolved tremendously. There is a very healthy sense of competition between farmers and vendors, whether they are food outlets or productive family businesses, and you can see them trying to outdo one another in a positive and enthusiastic way.”
She added that the market had grown into one of the island’s most loved and highly-awaited events, drawing thousands of visitors who come to pick up their weekly fresh produce and admire the stunning selection of other items such as plants on display.
Looking ahead, Shaikha Maram said the goal was not to make the market bigger but to maintain its charm and elevate its quality. “The area is reaching its capacity, and we don’t want to lose the special atmosphere of this place,” she said, adding that as demand continues to grow, they may eventually have to be more selective – not because the quality was lacking, but because they were determined to ‘preserve what makes this market unique’.
This year’s edition features 32 local farmers, along with a number of agriculture companies, productive families, nurseries and bee-keepers.
Handicraft activities have also been included, as well as educational and recreational programmes for children. Visitors can browse an array of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, plants, honey, spice pastes, hand-crafted wooden items, traditionally woven baskets and more.
Bahraini farmer Ebrahim Qanas, who was selling a range of different fruits and vegetables, highlighted the market’s importance to the community. “This event gives people the chance to view and try Bahraini products,” he said, noting that attendance increases every year.
“Bahraini products are very high quality and once people try them, they look for them and make more of an effort to buy local. There are also activities for children, so it is a great experience for families during the cooler weather.
“We encourage everyone to come down every Saturday to get their fresh produce for the week,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bahraini farmer Ebrahim Hassan highlighted some of the market’s most popular picks. “Many visitors come specifically for our locally grown corn, especially the red variety, which is still unfamiliar to many,” he said. “It can be sweet enough to eat fresh, or it can be used for grinding into flour or for other culinary applications like salads and roasted dishes.”
He was also selling a variety of other vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower and cucumber.
The Bahraini Farmers Market will run every Saturday from 7am to 2pm at Budaiya Botanical Garden until February 14.
• For more information, visit @farmers.bh
&uuid=(email))