Monday, December 20, 2010

Exposition Afkart : Decembre 2010








Fair Trade Lebanon expose ses produits issus du commerce équitable à Afkart, le salon de Noël des designers libanais au Biel à Beyrouth, du 14 au 20 décembre 2010. Les visiteurs à la recherche de cadeaux pour les fêtes ont pu découvrir -ou redécouvrir- les saveurs traditionnelles du terroir libanais.


A l'occasion, FTL leur propose en plus de sa gamme habituelle des coffrets cadeaux spéciaux, du vin rouge pour accompagner leur repas le soir du réveillon ou des croquants au sésame, cacahuètes ou noisettes pour satisfaire leurs petites faims. " Je suis passée hier et je suis revenue aujourd'hui avec mes parents pour leur montrer tous ces produits traditionnels", témoigne une passante, enthousiasmée par les confitures naturelles de FTL.


Les touristes sont également séduits par les sirops, mélasses, huiles d'olive et autres gourmandises du stand :" J'en achète pour ma famille", raconte une jeune américaine de passage au Liban. " Je veux leur faire découvrir toutes ces recettes de la gastronomie libanaise!"

Si chaque visiteur déguste avec ravissement les produits des coopératives de femmes et des petits producteurs locaux exposés, peu connaissent le commerce équitable et ses principes. " Il reste un grand travail de sensibilisation auprès du public à faire" rapporte Randa el Chemali, responsable marketing chez FTL, qui met un point d'honneur à expliquer à chaque client les valeurs de respect et de solidarité qui régissent le commerce équitable.

Texte et Vidéo par Anne Ilcinkas.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Join us from Dec 14th until 20th at BIEL !


Oh we know you miss us...!!
Come and share the fun at the AFKART Christmas Exhibition held at BIEL (Hall 3) from Dec 14th until the 20th
- Everyday from 4:00 till 10:00 PM -

Fair Trade Lebanon will be selling Christmas and Wine Packages !
Make sure you are there for our wine tasting
Merry Christmas Everyone...See you there :) we'll be at the Food Court

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Fair Trade Lebanon at Balamand University


Dear Students and Advocates,

Today FTL was be present at the University of Balamand to give a conference about the concept of Fair Trade, its opportunities and challenges. The event was organized by the university's Interactive student Club, which we deeply thank for their interest, motivation, and communication work.

If you are a student reading this blog and wish to launch the same event at your own university, then Fair Trade Lebanon would be more than glad to hear from you!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Visit of the French Ambassador to Ain Ebel

Today, we were honored by the visit of His Excellency the Ambassador of France in Lebanon Mr Denis Pietton, to our partner Food-Processing Cooperative of Ain Ebel. The program involved the presentation of the cooperative whose rehabilitation has been supported by the Social Fund for Development of the French Embassy in partnership with Fair Trade Lebanon.





Monday, November 8, 2010

Marathon 2010: We did it!



Go Fair Trade!
Good Job, 10 km in about 1h20!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Fair Trade Lebanon will run the 2010 Marathon


On Sunday the 7th of November, Fair Trade Lebanon will run the 10 Km Marathon race organized by the Beirut Marathon Association.

Here's our story in six words...

"WE RUN, TO STAY…IN LEBANON".

People run for many reasons, for life, for adrenaline, for peace, for competition, for health or simply for fun….Fair Trade Lebanon wants to RUN for the PRESENT, for LEBANON. We will run because we are choosing to stay…to make a point that our future is this land, and we will keeping on running to protect it, to build it and to promote it and promote FAIR TRADE for all. Our motivation is like this race, long and stubborn, and we will keep on going. Fair Trade Lebanon is here to stay!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

We are at ASSAHA Supermarket !

New Entry in the Lebanese market : Our products are now sold at
ASSAHA Supermarket in Mar Takla, Hazmieh.



A wide choice of products is there for you, our stand Terroirs du Liban is filled with Syrups, Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine, Distillates....


...and a variety of condiments for your refined cuisine: Grilled Wheat, Zaatar, Fleur de Sel, Chilli Paste, Organic Ketchup and Goat Kechek (our famous Lebanese specialty, exquisite!)...

...you will also find our whole selection of jams and fruits in syrup!

Dear bloggers and followers,

Fair Trade is about improving lives...it is about helping small producers strengthen their activities while providing them with marketing and sales opportunities, sustainable solutions and better incomes in order for them to fight against rural exodus, poverty and unemployment.

But not only, Fair Trade is also about ensuring that the final product is irreproachable in regard to quality and to recipes.
We are proud to say that the brand Terroirs du Liban has passed all quality tests and requirements necessary for export (ingredients used, process of production and packaging are all approved in the European and North-American markets), our products attract consumers by their natural and traditional process (no additives nor preservatives), their taste, their variety, and that fun twist of modernity!...

The best way to enjoy all of the above is to go ahead and indulge yourself in...
Terroirs du Liban

For more info, call: 05 952 153

Monday, October 25, 2010

En route to women's cooperatives in the Bekaa - iloubnan.info

Report by Anne llcinkas from iloubnan.info
Music by Dhafer Youssef

This report summarizes our field trip on October 15th and our celebration of World Rural Woman's Day. In the midst of our most forgotten Lebanese villages, there are powerful women doing some impressive work and bringing change to their households and communities...this video is priceless...

Thank you Anne.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Catering by Fair Trade Lebanon

Time Out Beirut and Save Beirut Heritage are organizing a screening of Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige's 1999 feature film "Autour de la Maison Rose" (92mins, Arabic with English subtitles), on Tuesday 26 October, 8pm at the Association de Développement de Gemmayzé.
Fair Trade Lebanon will provide snacks and drinks for all cineclub-goers. A selection of delicious grilled wheat for nibbling, molasses biscuits, refreshing mulberry, rose and bitter orange syrups and jams will be offered on the menu!
Yum Oh! All made by our partner cooperatives...

To attend, visit the Facebook page event or the TimeOutBeirut website.
For more information call 71 535 137

Remember, October 26th, See you there! :)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The Success Platter or what happened on October 15th....





To make a Success Platter, you need:

-2 cups of Believers and Visionaries
-250g of Long-term Focus and Commitment
-250g of the rich mixture: Motivation, Solidarity, Ethics
-A handful of Laughter
-1 teaspoon of a few falls
-1 tablespoon of Lessons learnt
For topping:We suggest some white cream made of Ambitions and Projects

Combine all ingredients. Spread in pan and bake until golden brown!
This recipe serves a lot of people, as many as you want, perhaps even a whole nation...

On October 15th, we spent a day with nothing on our mind but the future of our dear Lebanon. Journalists have shown us recognition for the hard work of rural women in their cooperatives and for the cause of Fair Trade...it was a rewarding day...






To all of you with us on that day, Thank You...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Celebrating World Rural Woman's Day on October 15th


On October 15th 2010, Fair Trade Lebanon will invite local journalists to a field trip day to celebrate the World Rural Woman's Day and raise awareness for the Fair Trade cause and its impact on local disadvantaged communities.


Our organization has programmed visits to two women's cooperatives and partners located in the Bekaa. This field trip will give the journalists the chance to dialogue with those active women, learn about their stories and watch them while they work in their cooperatives.


We will first visit women from the cooperative of Fourzol, in the caza of Zahle to witness the preparation of grape molasses. Then we will head to Rachaya in West Bekaa, where the cooperative will be preparing jams and grilled wheat. Members will openly speak about their daily challenges, their progress and their ambitions.


Pictures and press releases will be available after the 15th, stay posted!


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Facts about Rural Women

In 10 days we celebrate the World Rural Woman's Day, here are some interesting facts and challenges....

Rural Women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population.

Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: up to 80% in Africa, 60% in Asia, between 30 and 40 % in Latin America and Western countries.
Women own only 2% of the land and receive only 1% of all agriculture credit.
Only 5% of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.
Women represent 2/3 of all illiterate people.

The number of rural women living in poverty has doubled since 1970.

Source: International Federation of Agricultural Producers

Friday, September 3, 2010

Bulgur

In the region of Kob Elias, in the heart of the Bekaa valley, some 50 km from Beirut, FTL has identified a small family business of four people who decided to fight to stay at home and not to flee their impoverished rural areas.
For over 30 years, they have transformed wheat into bulgur, a very popular product in Lebanon.
The bulgur is a delicate product and its preparation represents a challenge. To achieve a top quality bulgur, you need to apply a specific detailed order for the entire process.


To begin with, Durum wheat is soaked in boiling water for 3 hours, until cooked.


Then it is drained and dried in the sun, extended in circular thin layers over a clean floor. The drying time is a secret.


Dried cooked wheat is then cut up and goes into the mill, according to the desired size: fine, medium, coarse, and whole grains. The different sizes are used for different purposes.



The variety of thick brown bulgur is packed in bags of 500 gr for Fair Trade Lebanon.




This product is available in France, Lebanon and Germany.


What you probably don't know about Bulgur...
"Bulgur is precooked and requires only minimal preparation before eating. Unlike cracked wheat, bulgur is ready to eat after just ten minutes of boiling, roughly the same amount of time that it takes to prepare pasta.
Bulgur has a delicious, mildly nutty flavor.
It is a good source of protein, iron, magnesium , and B vitamins. It is packed with fiber — a 1-cup (182 g) serving of cooked bulgur has 8 grams of fiber and contains very little fat. You can add nutritional punch to casseroles and other dishes by substituting bulgur for converted rice. Incorporating bulgur into your diet is both nutritionally smart and easily accomplished."
Lebanese tabbouleh is a classic example for an easy salad using bulgur. We’ve published the tabbouleh recipe here.

More about Bulgur here.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

More pictures at the Mzaar Summer Festival 2010






Thank you for passing by, for tasting our products and sharing your opinion, for showing a lot of interest and much support !

We will still be at the Festival until tonight 10:00 PM !