The awaited video: Fair Trade Lebanon on BBC

Thank you Katy Watson for this valuable report!

Flash News

The report in which Fair Trade Lebanon has been featured will be running on:

BBC this Friday the 16th 2010 at 10:00 pm and the next day, Saturday the 17th at 08:30 am. Lebanon timing.

Fair Trade Lebanon sits down with producers

Today, Fair Trade Lebanon headed to the village of Tourbol in the Bekaa of Lebanon; We gathered around 20 members of partner cooperatives and discussed our link in the whole chain of Fair Trade. We raised awareness for the importance of meeting the standards of quality, of transparency and long-term commitment.

Members shared with us their impressions and their expectations from Fair Trade Lebanon. Our main objective is to continue what we have started 4 years ago, to proceed in seeking markets for the products and create a sustainable impact from the work that is being done.

It is not always easy in the current economic environment but FTL is nevertheless growing and our eyes are all looking forward.

Tomorrow is looking so bright...and our projects as well. I will seize this opportunity to congratulate a person, M.Philippe Adaime, for always choosing to do the correct thing instead of the easiest, for also leading the team in such a great spirit that makes us all thrive to always bring the best of us. Philippe, I salute the dedication you are offering and spreading all around!

Readers, make sure you join us in our journey...it's filled with surprises...

Mulberry Smoothie!

...Our mulberry obsession goes on...

You have fruits and mulberry syrup but you have no idea what to do with them...We are so glad you've checked the blog because this summer you are going to make your kids and your friends the healthiest drink to refresh them!

All you need for one serving, is:

-1 cup of non-fat yogurt
-1 banana
-A couple of mulberries (5 or 6 pieces)
-7 to 8 tablespoons of mulberry syrup

Put all the ingredients in the blender and serve fresh !!

Mulberry Muffins or Cake!

So yesterday night, I decided to make some mulberry muffins!

I used the recipe below that I found online, but ended up putting the batter in an english cake pan instead of a muffin mold (totally forgot to buy one), nothing changes to the result…except that you can no longer call them “muffins”…it’s simply mulberry cake with a muffin texture!!

I suggest you give it a try, it is extremely easy to make and tastes great. You probably have most of the ingredients at home; I got the sour cream, applesauce and almond extract from Caliprix (Maameltein highway, Lebanon). As for the fresh mulberries, they’re from my aunt’s garden!

Muffin molds and cups can be found in any big supermarket (or head to the 1st floor at Caliprix!).

Recipe for mulberry muffins:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 pinch salt

• 1/2 cup fat free sour cream

• 1/4 cup skim milk

• 2 tablespoons applesauce

• 1 egg

• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

• 1/2 cup mulberries

Quantity: 8 big muffins

Time of preparation: 15 minutes

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (or 400 degrees F). Grease 6 jumbo muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt.
• In a medium bowl, mix together sour cream, milk, applesauce, egg and almond extract. Stir in flour mixture until batter is smooth.
• Fold in mulberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

NB: if you don’t use the muffin mold and end up putting the batter in a cake mold, then it will need more than 30 minutes to be done…I left it for about 40-45 minutes. You can decorate it with some icing sugar.

Bon Appetit!!

Mulberries

It is the Mulberry Season! A very brief season, begins around the end of June until mid July, with lots of mulberry trees in Lebanon; these fruits are at their best when you harvest them and eat them on the spot.

The benefits of mulberries are numerous...

"Mulberry is one of the nutrition treasures of alternative health medicine. Mulberry contains fiber, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, carbohydrates, iron and proteins essential to one's good health. The fruit is found mainly in the subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas and can be black, red, pink or white in color.

Mulberry juice is believed to be a good source of treating anemia and poor blood circulation. The fruit is also a good source of nutrients that lower high blood pressure, reducing the risk of blood clots and strokes."

More on health benefits here.

To give you some ideas, we will be posting recipes and serving suggestions about what you can do with the Fruit and its Syrup!

We have mulberries, so let's enjoy them ; )

All eyes on South Africa

This summer, the FIFA World Cup has got all eyes on South Africa. See how football opens up perspectives for fair trade producers…

Fair Trade Labeling Organizations (FLO) represent 24 organizations working to secure a better deal for producers. FLO own the FAIRTRADE MARK, the product label that certifies that the international Fair Trade standards have been met.

One of the objectives of those standards is to provide an additional Fairtrade Premium to producers, which can be invested in projects that enhance social, economic and environmental development.

In the video, the fairtrade certified winery Stellar Organics is using the fairtrade premium to initiate a recreational project for its workers and their children. The winery is actually building a football field, changing rooms and social clubs.

More here.

Source of Picture , video and info: FLO website

Are you willing to try something new?

Do you like to innovate, discover and advocate?

This summer, we are looking for young dynamic people to participate with us in promoting our brand TERROIRS DU LIBAN.

Fair Trade Lebanon will be exhibiting and selling its products in 2 important Summer Festivals (during the month of August);

If you want to live this experience with us, show your marketing and communication skills, advocate for change and for the natural produce of Lebanon, then you are most welcome to join our community!

Send us your e-mail and phone number to: r.elchemali@fairtradelebanon.org
we’d be more than happy to get in touch.

With BBC

Fair Trade Lebanon spends a whole day with Katy Watson, a reporter from the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

The days kicks off with an interview at our premises, followed by a visit to one of our cooperative. Katy interviews women and members of the coop, films the process of mulberry syrup and apricot jam and asks them about difficulties and rural exodus.

All in the aim of presenting alternative solutions to economic challenges facing rural Lebanon.

The story may be running later this week on the BBC Middle-East Business Report. We will be blogging it for sure!

Dear bloggers and followers...

After days of break, Blogging Fair Trade Lebanon is BACK...this week, expect a lot of great pictures, a BBC report, our Mulberry obsession and much more. All from the heart of Lebanon to your home.

We missed you!

Stay tuned.