Have a blessed new year 2012!

Season's Greetings from WFTO!

A great thank you from Fair Trade Lebanon to all the WFTO management, members, friends and patners worldwide! May you have the warmest greetings!

Are you ready for Christmas?

Join us at the AFKART Christmas exhibition held in BIEL (Hall 3) from December 16th until the 22nd for some real festive spirit, gift packages and plenty of tastings!

A bientot, see you there!

Au marche de Noël !

Christmas Market at l'Institut Francais du Liban!

Fair Trade Lebanon will be present at the Marché de Noel organized by the French Institute of Lebanon (by the French Embassy).

From December 7th until the 10th, Lebanese artisans and local NGOs will be there to sell paintings, accessories, pottery, candles, chocolate and local produce!

All gift ideas to suit your taste!

Practical Info:

Entrance: Free

Hall: Espace des Lettres

Damascus road, Beirut

Tel: 01 420 200

www.institutfrancais-liban.com

Opening Time:

Wed 7th, Thu 8th and Friday 9th: 1:00 PM until 7:30 PM

Saturday 10th: 10 AM until 3 PM

See you there!

...Are you looking for Christmas gifts?

....Stay tuned!

Fair Trade Lebanon will be in two Christmas exhibitions in less than 15 days!

FTL at the school of Saint-Coeur Kfarhbab!

Fair Trade Lebanon gave two conferences to students (aging from 9 till 13 years old) at the school of Saint-Coeur Kfarhbab! Our conferences revolved around the theme of Lebanese food-processing cooperatives and Fair Trade as a means for rural development.

We've discussed in detail how cooperatives work: the  nature of their activity, the products they prepare, their location as well as their strengths and everyday challenges.

We've also introduced the principles of Fair Trade and the role that FTL plays as a link between small rural producers and consumers!

The audience was delighted! they are now eager to go visit and meet directly with the producers!



We will renew this experience real soon!

Our video: World Rural Woman's Day 2011

Fair Trade Lebanon has celebrated on Octobre 15th the World Rural Woman's Day at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle and the Bekaa. Our producers came together to discuss their experiences and promote their activities around the principles of Fair Trade.

This video reveals some precious testimonies!

A word of thank you goes to all of our partner producers who were present with us and showed a great deal of solidarity!

Thank You All!

Le Liban en France: very positive feedback

What an amazing feeling...to be there in Paris and feel the enthusiasm and nostalgia of people looking for their hometown specialties. We've sold our complete stock of products...we could've even sold the pictures that were decorating the stand! No I'm just kidding...I believe that what I want to say is that we would have definitely stayed longer if we could, and we would've loved to continue to tell our story and promote the work of our small fair trade producers. Their products were such a success that we came back home with an amazing dynamism.

We will keep going forward and bring you even better and more innovative products. Paris, we love you. And we will be back....

To all our supporters, all the new people we met and all the volunteers who gave us a hand and helped us through those 3 full days of exhibition: Thank you so much!



FTL : Le Liban en France

Le Liban en France? Here we come!

Ahla w sahla fikon bi Baris!

"La France au Liban" in 2010 in Beirut and "Le Liban en France” in Paris in 2011, two events, one goal: To boost business relationships between the French and Lebanese.

In order to promote Lebanese products in France, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris, the Franco-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of France, are organizing from october 28th until the 30th, an event of great dimension held at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, and entitled “Le Liban en France” (Lebanon in France)!

The objective of this event is to allow Lebanese companies to meet with new professional contacts and investors and to promote their products and services to the grand public.

Le Liban en France is an opportunity to discover a new culture, a new story, that of Lebanon. Fair Trade Lebanon will be there to exhibit its range Terroirs du Liban. We invite you all to come and visit our stand; you will definitly not regret it and will go back home with an amazing gourmet selection:

Baba ghannouj, Hummus ready to eat, Pomegranate molasses, Traditionnal Lebanese soaps from Tripoli, Sirops, Virgin olive oil, Spices and the list goes on! of course, all natural with 0 additives nor colorants!!

We are waiting for you! Pictures will be uploaded starting this Friday!

Practical Information:
Location: Palais des Congres (2, Place de la Porte Maillot, 75017 Paris)
Halls: PASSY A, B, and C
Dates: From Friday 28th until Sunday 30th of October, 2011
Time: From 10:00 AM until 8:00PM

Entrance: Free

October 15th: Happy Rural Woman's Day!

For the third consecutive year, the NGO Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL) commemorates the World Rural Women’s Day. This day is celebrated worldwide on October 15th to recognize the great effort and dedication of rural women in our societies, while stressing on the importance of their activities within the agricultural sector, vital to our economy.

On this occasion, and under the theme “Women at the heart of Fair Trade: Exchanges and Cooperation”, FTL invited all its partners, more than 15 food processing cooperatives on Saturday October 15th 2011 at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle and the Bekaa, in order to meet, exchange experiences and build a cooperation model based on the principles of fair trade.

In fact, since its creation in 2006, Fair Trade Lebanon works to promote Fair Trade, an alternative trading model that aims to help small producers by providing them with sales opportunities and offering them a fair price for their products. Moreover, in 2010, FTL has become member of the world fair trade organization (WFTO), and has hence given a global dimension to the cause of Lebanese producers.

The program of the day began at 9:30 AM by a word of welcome. It was be followed by a presentation on Fair Trade and its fundamental principles, as well as testimonies from women producers. Fair Trade Lebanon has also announced the project of establishing a platform for agricultural cooperatives as members of the international fair trade network represented in Lebanon by FTL.

 

Organic...the basics you need to know.

In Lebanon, we tend to confuse Organic production with "Home made", "Natural" or "Private gardening". We sometimes even believe that "organic" is restricted to "healthy"...healthy for your body and diet. But these prejudice are incorrect...Organic is actually extremely linked to Environment...so let us elaborate a little more in order to brighten the big picture.

1-How to define "Organic Foods"?

Organic foods are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.
For the vast majority of human history, agriculture can be described as "organic"; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new synthetic chemicals introduced to the food supply. The organic farming movement arose in the 1940s in response to the industrialization of agriculture known as the Green Revolution.

Last but not least: [On the contrary to what you may think], the weight of the available scientific evidence has not shown a significant difference between organic and more conventionally grown food in terms of safety, nutritional value, or taste. [This must be double checked in reference to the Lebanese reality.]
source: wikipedia, more here.

2-How could we distinguish organic products from conventional ones (in local Lebanese context)?

No farmer can claim that his / her crops are organic just because they believe they are. Soils must be tested and the whole farming process must be monitored and regulated in order to accredit such sayings. There are independant certifying bodies who operate on this level in order to grant producers an official Organic Certification for their production, and hence, an official organic label for their products.

In Lebanon, two bodies are approved to certify and grant the organic label: IMC (Instituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione) and LibanCert.

During their assessment, they inspect the facilities, the soil, the water used for irrigation, the packing material, the cleaning products, and they do random sampling of final products to be sent for laboratory tests.

While buying local products at the store, look for the below logos for certification:

3-Organic farming and Environment...any impact?

According to a French study done by the Agence BIO (2006 report), organic farming has demonstrated positive impacts on the soil's structure and fertility; some of the study findings are listed below:

• Absence of residues of synthetic chemical pesticides
• Intense biological soil activity
• Higher level of organic sustances in the soil
• Limited nitrate pollution
• Crop diversity, landscape diversity
• Biodiversity of natural species are witnessed in the surroundings of organic farms
• Conservation of the genetic diversity of cultivated plants

The soil is a living environment, housing a variety of bacteria, micro-fungi, insects, earthworms etc. It is a complex and multi-functional nonrenewable resource! We must preserve it from often irreversible damage given its major role in the regulation of natural balances.

75% of French consumers accompany their organic purchase with an ethical incentive. They believe that choosing organic is looking beyond the present and making a sustainable choice for generations to come.

4-Where can you purchase fresh and processed local organic products?

I've researched some local outlets and specialized stores...listed below in random order:

Organic Bakery Chouf area Tel: 05340371; available in Beirut through network stores

Beit el Soha Facing Hotel Dieu hospital, Achrafieh; Tel: 01398366

A New Earth Achrafieh (Zahrat al Ihsan street); Tel: 01219920

Live Organic New Naccache, main road; Tel: 04444886

Healthy Basket Store in Hamra & Home Delivery; Tel: 01747831 and 03794438

Naturalia located in Baabda, Tel: 05456566

It is a narrow list and does not include all places, in addition to small selective outlets, all supermarkets usually do have imported and local organic items.

Use your loaf: food prices and the Arab uprising, by Dr Rami Zurayk

Published in The Observer, on 17th of July 2011:

"People in Arab countries have always relied on bread as a low-cost source of sustenance. In Yemen alone there are more than 20 different kinds of bread, each made and baked differently.

In Egypt, bread is known as aish, meaning "life". It is the inseparable companion of all dishes, even some desserts. The Fertile Crescent, stretching from the Egyptian Nile to the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates, is where agriculture began, where wheat, lentils, chickpeas, sheep and goats and olives were first cultivated.

Today, that same region is the largest importer of food in the world. [...] Although the Arab revolutions were united under the slogan "the people want to bring down the regime" not "the people want more bread", food was a catalyst."

Read the full article here.

Dr Rami Zurayk's blog Land and People.

Rami Zurayk is a professor of agricultural and food sciences at the American University of Beirut and author of Food, Farming and Freedom: Sowing the Arab Spring (Just World Books). Find it on amazon.

Pomegranate virtues...the scientific truth

From Healthcentral.com:

There is a lot of buzz lately about the pomegranate exotic fruit. How much is supported by scientific research?

Pomegranates grow wild from Iran to northern India, but they are cultivated throughout India, the Middle East, southern Europe and California.

Here’s what some of the researchers’ reports say about the pomegranate fruit:

1- Rich in antioxidants that can keep bad LDL cholesterol from oxidizing
2-Pomegranate juice, like aspirin, can help keep blood platelets from clumping together to form unwanted clots
3-Eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily for three months improves the amount of oxygen getting to the heart muscle of patients with coronary heart disease
4- Possibility that pomegranate compounds might prevent prostate cancer or slow its growth
5- Pomegranate juice might help reduce the risk of breast cancer
6- Tissue cultures of human cartilage cells respond to pomegranate extract. Inflammation is reduced and the enzymes that break down cartilage become less active.

This is still far from a prescription for aching joints, but most experts agree that a little pomegranate won’t hurt and might help!

Scientific research sources:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2000
American Journal of the College of Cardiology, Sept. 2005
Journal of Nutrition, Sept. 2005

Deir El Ahmar

Deir El Ahmar is a Lebanese town, located at 100 km from Beirut and 12 km northeast of Baalbeck in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon.

Deir el Ahmar's location in the fertile Beqaa Valley makes agriculture its main economical activity. The town has also good potential for tourism due to the mild climate, pristine nature, and the variety of historical and archeological sites. Ecotourism, especially natural excursions and hiking trips are becoming more popular in the region of Deir el Ahmar. Tourists also visit the local organic farms and participate in farming activities.

However, an economical and demographic study conducted in Deir el Ahmar by Dr Gaby Saliba in 2001 highlights the following three problems:

1- High emigration of youth [62% of population] and still increasing mainly caused by the lack of high education institutions and the nearest university is 40 minutes away.
2- Scarce role of women in development.
3- And high rate of unemployment.

The pictures above were taken by my colleagues Fanny and Vanessa who spent 4 days in Deir El Ahmar accompanying our wine producers during their first audit for organic certification, provided by the IMC international body.

KILL BEES!

FNE (France Nature Environnement) is a federation of more than 3000 French NGOs working in the field of environment.

It was founded in 1968 in the aim of informing and alerting the grand public to crucial environmental threats by seeking massive mobilization and achieving ambitious policy changes.
Whether it is climate change, biodiversity, sustainable mobility, agriculture, industrial risks...FNE is renowned for its expertise and its contribution to the improvement and implementation of important laws and regulations (in France and the European Union).

The advertisements above are selected from one of their awareness raising campaigns:

Ad 1: KILL BEES; Some pesticides present a deadly danger to bees, and it is not a drama film.

Ad 2: IT IS WITHOUT DANGER; regarding GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) we still do not have enough hindsight...

Ad 3: STOP YOUR NON-SENSE; Industrial farming and fertilizers generate green algae. Their decomposition releases a deadly gas to Men.

Our 10 Fair Trade Principles

Principle One: Creating Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers
Principle Two: Transparency and Accountability
Principle Three: Fair Trading Practices
Principle Four: Payment of a Fair Price
Principle Five: Ensuring no Child Labour and Forced Labour
Principle Six: Commitment to Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
Principle Seven: Ensuring Good Working Conditions
Principle Eight: Providing Capacity Building
Principle Nine: Promoting Fair Trade
Principle Ten: Respect for the Environment

For more information about Fair Trade click on this link for French text, and on >this one for English.

So who is Jim? And what is Fatteh?

Just like us, Jim is a gourmet who simply loves delicious food!

His eagerness to share with the world the secrets and richness of the Lebanese cuisine has driven him, along with his partner, to set up an online website dedicated to topnotch recipes that everyone must try out! Ladies and gentlmen, recettelibanaison.com is a mixture of food, of photography, of mezze, platters, breads and all types of desserts...While you're on the homepage, make sure to check out Les Recettes Minceur...I guess we all need some salad tips and ideas for summer time!

As for Fatteh...the origin of this dish is said to be Syrian...but it is commonly prepared in Lebanon and could have so many variations: with or without meat, with yoghurt or sometimes Tahini, could also include eggplants, some paprika and other types of spices.

Recettelibanaise brings you Fatteh as described below:

Ingredients (serves 4):
- 200 g cooked chickpeas
- 200 g of ground beef coarsely chopped
- 4 small pots of yogurt
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed with salt
- 1 / 2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 / 2 teaspoon of dried mint
- 1 / 4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 / 4 teaspoon of pepper
- 2 tablespoons pine seeds
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (olive oil could work as well)
- 1 loaf of Lebanese bread

Preparation:
-Cut the bread into small triangles and grill them in the oven.
-In a bowl combine garlic, salt, mint and yogurt.
-In a saucepan, brown the pine seeds until lightly browned then remove.
-Add ground meat and fry until it changes color. Season with salt and spices and then add the pine seeds.

Serving:

-Place the pieces of toast in the bottom of a dish.
-Add the chickpeas over the bread.
-Pour the yogurt.
-Top with minced meat and pine nuts.
-Garnish with a mint leaf!

Et voila...your perfect summer entrée! Bon Appétit!

And as my colleague would perfectly describe it"you will eat and cry" (from joy of course...a la libanaise)...!!

The Love of Food...

"I just can't stand people who do not take food seriously" thank you Oscar Wilde for saying it so well...I personally feel so ecstatic when I step into a restaurant and get surprised by delicious food. The complete opposite happens when I taste average, boring ingredients, most of time fatty things, mixed together in a non-harmonic way...what a waste.

Food should perfectly melt into your mouth, it should be prepared with a lot of delicatesse and it must be planned. A good chef stays up all night thinking about the new recipe he wants to try out.
As I write this post, I'm already thinking of all the tasty summer snacks and refreshments, I feel like having some crunchy bread, topped with chickpeas and some cold yoghurt...yum, and all of it garnished with a couple of mint leaves....oh my, this is so fresh and mouth-watering...

Dear readers, in my next post I'll introduce you to Jim and to the Lebanese Fatteh...you must stay tuned...