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...

Fair Trade for Women Producers...Portraits of Hope and Determination

The Women’s Economic Empowerment project was launched in 2009 and is funded by the MDG3 Global Fund by the Government of the Netherlands. Through the project, WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing) and its partners are advocating for the needs of informal workers, especially women. The project seeks to promote the voice, visibility and validity of working poor women across different countries, sectors and issues in the informal economy. As part of this project, WIEGO’s Global Trade Programme, in partnership with leading Fair Trade organizations in seven countries, initiated Fair Trade for Women Producers with a focus on documenting, analyzing and disseminating key success factors of fair trade by involving women producers in all stages of development.


They have coordinated and organized their 2 year research with several country networks: In India, Nepal, Nicaragua, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In each country, they have chosen a few women groups and have followed them in their daily life, searching for information and common trends. The groups were given video and digital cameras and were asked to be their own messengers, so they began to interview themselves and use their own words to tell their unique stories.

I personally watched in Kenya the series of small documentaries that WIEGO produced for each country...I enjoyed each second of them and realized that sometimes we could be extremely ungrateful in regard to what we have, or what we think we don't have. I was struck by the courage and the motivation of these women struggling to put food on the table and make a decent living for themselves and their families. Some of them are marginalized by their respective societies because they happen to be widows or with special needs...These women producers chose to fight against their tremendous poverty and oppression, by organizing themselves and increasing their power and performance as a group.

The below videos would give you a broader vision of what Fair Trade or Women Producers really represents:

As stated by WIEGO... these are "portraits of hope and determination".

Bijaipur, India: part I

Bijaipur, India: part II

All the documentaries and analysis are available on the blog of Fair Trade for Women Producers (under the country pages), click here to access the home page.

Thank you Elaine, Carole and Sofia for the beautiful work...and a bigger thanks to all these noble ladies who, by speaking out, remind us that life is really what you make of it...

Outstanding businesswoman

Ethiopian Fair Trade pioneer and World Economic Forum’s 2011 Young Global Leader Mrs. Bethlehem Tilahum Alemu has been named Outstanding Businesswoman for this year’s African Business Awards. Bethlehem, founder of the soleRebels footwear brand, is the first fair trader to receive the tribute.

“Bethlehem is truly a remarkable entrepreneur and leader. She has built an incredibly successful company and a global brand from scratch. At the same time she has empowered her community and her country while presenting a galvanized, dynamic face of African creativity to the global market. With that in mind we are excited and honored to name her Outstanding Business Woman of the year,” Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of African Business magazine, commented on her award.

The African Business Awards is organized by the African Business magazine and the Commonwealth Business Council, as a platform to give recognition of the excellence and best practices in the African business communities.

Congratulations to Bethlehem and soleRebels!

Source: WFTO july 2011 newsletter.

Small producers struggle to earn a fair price...

“In Lebanon, the price of wheat is protected by the government, as for the other crops, small farmers struggle to earn the right and fair price for their goods. Middle-men are the ones who collect the big margins, leaving out the real growers” – says M. Sleilati.

M. Sleilati has founded his family business 10 years ago in the region of Kob Elias. He has a few employees in his mill where he produces bulgur, and sells all types of local seeds and pulses. He congratulates himself for his perseverance and for the improvement of the business. Over the years, he was able to successfully increase his production and his sales. According to him, we must find solutions to the two most urgent issues facing our agriculture: unemployment in the countryside, and rural exodus….

This summer...careful with the sun and keep your skin hydrated!

If you think that pollution is the number one cause to harm your skin…
think twice.
Researches show that sun is actually the first cause behind skin cancer, wrinkles, eczema and other types of irritations…

According to the WebMd advice:
“You might like the look of tanned skin, but the sun takes a heavy toll on your health and your appearance. Sunlight consists of UVA rays, which can lead to premature aging and skin cancer, and UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will protect you against both types. Make sure to coat the skin generously, and don't forget to use a protective lip balm.”

Our recommendation for you this summer, is to give yourself the easy-crucial-responsible treatment! Hmmm, so what does it consist of?

Well…first of all start your day with:

• A gentle and efficient facial cleanser, which would also exfoliate your skin
  


• Then apply a matt and odorless sunscreen on your face and neck! (Yes you will look much younger as the years go by…it’s the dermatologists best kept secret!).

Second clause: Remember to moisturize your skin everyday! Consider replacing your commercial shower gel with a natural soap, such as olive oil soap.
For that, we do have exactly what you need….

Our olive oil and bay leaf (5%) soap is made from 100% natural ingredients, according to the traditional Aleppo recipe. It is a natural antiseptic soap with vegetable fat and no chemical additives, ideal for sensitive skins.
Beauty experts highly recommend olive oil soap during summer and all year long for its moisturizing properties, it retains water and keeps the skin hydrated.
Exfoliating and moisturizing is definitely the recipe for smooth and soft body care!