UAE: Sampling the nation’s finest local veggies
The festival, held to honour HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood will reflect on the hard work the mothers and families undertake to preserve the authentic values and traditions of Emirati culture while embracing a multitude of others. The tasting sessions have proven popular with all members of the family and started with a sampling session for sweet potatoes last Friday 1 April.
“On top of tasting good, sweet potatoes are well suited to the sandy soils of the UAE, are water efficient, easy to grow and produce high yields. This root vegetable is also nutritious, packed full of energy and vitamin A, is excellent as part of a diabetic diet and rich in antioxidants which have the potential to fight cancers,” said Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Communication Manager, ADFSC. “The sweet potato is also ideal for small hold farmers in the Emirates looking to take advantage of opportunities arising from the growing demand for healthy food.”
Health guidelines recommend five or more servings of vegetables and fruit every day. The recommendation is a minimum requirement for good health and the prevention of some common sicknesses like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
“The festival has also been an excellent opportunity to introduce families of Abu Dhabi to the quality and freshness of locally grown products including vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, and local dates,” continued Mr. Al Suwaidi.
The commercial brand of the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre - Local Harvest – introduced visitors to the festival to dishes made with fresh eggplants, tomatoes and more, further increasing the appetite for information on local produce in the Emirates.
Alongside the sampling at the festival, the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre is also hosting a series of workshops aimed to bring an understanding of farming into the home, on topics such as the benefits of organic farming, hydroponics, and home gardening. The first edition of the ‘Mother of the Nation Festival’, will stretch along 1.3 kilometres of Abu Dhabi’s scenic Corniche Beach and will include a series of exhibits, performances, and events held across five outdoor activity zones, and including ‘The Pavilion’, a testament to Sheikha Fatima’s achievements.
For more information:
Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre
www.adfsc.ae
