Qatar ’ s Trailblazers |
There are luscious boxes of organic vegetables , freshly pressed juice , home-baked pastries , and raw milk produced on a farm in Qatar . As far as the eye can see , delicious produce is piled high .
Welcome to Torba Farmers ’ Market , the latest arrival on the Doha social scene .
A riot of colour , Torba is a community-inspired farmers ’ market hosted by Qatar Foundation at Education City . It has rapidly become the place to be seen in Doha .
It has humble roots , however , according to founder Fatma Al Khater . “ People in Doha had lost their connection to food ,” she says . “ I wanted to bring that connection back . We had a farmers ’ market , but it was a working wholesale market for trade . Now everyone is involved .”
Inspired by Coconut Grove Organic Market in Miami and Borough Market in London , Fatma wanted to showcase nourishing Qatari food , with a low impact on the planet .
Now , abundant Swiss chard , spring onions , greens , beetroot , numerous varieties of colourful tomatoes , and four different kinds of kale can be found alongside artisan produce , including soaps and beauty creams . Local wild herb remedies are also on offer , as are nut butters , jams and honey .
A Danish baker comes with pastries she has baked through the nights and trays of fresh sourdough bread .
Green juice of the day , made from sparklingly fresh spinach , pak choi , kale or moringa picked at 6am , is ready by 9am for the hordes of mothers with young children , students , and residents who visit the open-air market .
At the ‘ farm table ’, local chefs cook seasonal dishes with the Torba food , while the aroma of freshly-ground artisan coffee lingers over the stalls .
Regulars include Mama Baba Ganoush , Superheroes Eat Plants , and Greenola . There are seeds and seedlings on offer for those ambitious enough to grow their own food at home .
The name ‘ Torba ’ is derived from Arabic . It means ‘ the pure soil that feeds , nourishes and nurtures ’. Health is a priority – the juices and vegan bakes on offer would not be out of place in California .
For a country known for skyscrapers , big cars and sand dunes , Torba Farmers ’ Market has become the
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