Going Organic in Lebanon - Different Ways:

Looking for an organic solution is not always easy in Lebanon, but it is possible! I know a lot of you don't have the time to go and buy your fruits and vegetables. Some of you love to pick each fruit and each vegetable individually, and some of you just prefer to buy everything on-line. It's a choice, it's personal and here is what I found for each and everyone of you:

To buy your fruit and vegetables at a farmer's market where (most) producers are certified organic go to:

1. Souk el Tayeb - Saturday at Saifi Village from 8 am-2 pm ; Weds. at ABC Mall from 3 pm-10 pm. I suggest you go early, as all the vegetables disappear at 11.

2. Souk el Ard - Tuesday at Hamra from 8 am-2 pm at the Bread alleyway.

To buy your fruits and vegetables online from a reliable source go to:

1. Bioboxlb.com - I ordered my list today and waiting for it to come on Thursday, I'll let you know. I will go and visit the owner of the company Mr. Charbel Rizk next week to learn all about his products.

2. Healthy Basket - a project by AUB ; google it!

To go to a shop and pick vegetables, fruits, and other products dealing with the Lebanese "terroir" go to:

1. Al Marej - Ashrafieh - Abdel Wahab El Ingizi - 01-210211 opened 8:30 am - 7:00 pm; for more details check them out on Facebook at Al Marej Organic Food Store.

2. Earth Market - Ashrafieh - Zahret el Ihsan Street - 01-219920 ; very cozy - like taking a culinary trip all over the world in the world of organic foods.


I hope this helps to get you to go organic! I know I am, I love my children too much ... Can't imagine poisons in their bodies ... what have we done, shame on those who are not ethical ...

Celebrating Eating Locally

"Preparations are underway for the worldwide celebration of Slow Food’s 20th anniversary and ‘Eating Locally’ on Terra Madre Day this December 10. With just over a month until the big day, people from all corners of the world are planning a wide range of actitivites and events which will be as diverse and unique as the communities holding them - from a shared dinner under an elephant at the Tolouse Natural history museum in France, to a community folk festival in Bangladesh, and a fish canning party in the USA.

In Africa, the Slow Food Mukono convivium in Uganda is bringing together their members with school children, producers, consumers, teachers, parents, and local leaders, for a huge Eat-In - a shared meal of dishes made from local ingredients to represent the nation’s different food traditions. In Kenya, the Nyanza convivium is establishing a garden for indigenous crops and seed saving while the Central Rift convivium is linking artisan chefs with artisan farmers. In Cuba, the Las Terrazas food community is running a full-day program: planting of food trees with children from a local pre-school, a lunch for local farmers prepared by students from the “Cocina Ecologica” association, a community tasting of local juices and foods and a film screening. Meanwhile, in Australia Slow Food Sunshine Coast is inviting everyone to follow the 'Snail Trail' through the region, where they will be able to sample local ingredients and meet producers, as well as attend several Eat-Ins in parks." - from the official Slow food website.

Today I have a meeting with Slow Food founding members to decide on the Lebanese Event, I shall keep you posted!

Photo Exhibition at Green Party Lebanon

Now for a lighter subject, 25 of my photos have been chosen to make a photo exhibition at The Green Party Lebanon. If you are interested to see the exhibition, it is situated at Natour Bldg. 3rd Floor, Maaraad Street - Downtown Beirut. I'd like to thank Mr. Pierre Bared, author of Made in Lebanon, for making this possible.

State of Emergency Over Poisoned Produce

I don't know about you, but I'm really worried about this issue. How long have we been eating these poisoned fruits and vegetables. I read that this is causing cancer in the long run. I'm really afraid for us - the Lebanese - our families, our friends... Shame on those who are not doing a thing about this, this is a disaster!

MP Qabbani urges state of emergency over poisoned produce

Daily Star staff
Monday, November 09, 2009

BEIRUT: The Agriculture Ministry should declare a state of food emergency, said Beirut MP Mohammad Qabbani Sunday, following growing concern about poisoned fruits and vegetables in the local market.

Qabbani condemned the chaotic situation in Lebanon and accused the government and the country’s authorities of negligence in supervising agricultural products, calling the phenomenon a “mass” crime. Qabbani urged the judiciary and state supervisory bodies to intervene in the matter in order to determine who was responsible for the negligence and to punish them. “Those who collaborated in this affair with full knowledge of its dangers should be accused for being partners in a murder,” he said.

The MP also called on the authorities to immediately pass a food-safety draft law that was authored in 2003 and urged civil society to put pressure on politicians. He urged the organization Consumers Lebanon to step in and oversee the agricultural product sector.

“Stop your indifference and act. The danger not only threatens your neighbors it also threatens your life and the lives of your families,” he added, addressing the public.

But, head of the Association of the Farmers of the South, Hani Safieddine, asked politicians and officials not to exaggerate the matter and to deal with it in “a scientific and objective way.” Safieddine made the remarks at a news conference in Tyre on Sunday. “The random manner in which the case is being handled harms Lebanon’s agricultural reputation,” he said.

Safieddine added that the association was conducting tests to verify whether or not poisonous substances were present in food products and confirmed that no such substances were found so far in the south. He also called on the government to provide experts to handle the case.

Safieddine also said that the association would present a gentlemen’s agreement that would oblige farmers to abide by international agricultural standards.

Several figures had previously cast light on this issue. Zouhair Berro, the head of the Consumers’ Protection Association, said on Friday that the government should declare a state of emergency over the matter, criticizing official negligence in the agricultural sector and demanding that officials publicize information about the proper use of pesticides.

He said that illegal pesticides were being used in spraying fruits and vegetables. “Some of these chemicals are banned internationally but they are being smuggled to Lebanon and used by farmers,” Berro said adding that poisonous chemicals were found not only in Lebanese products but also in imported goods. “Strawberry samples coming from four Arab countries were tested and they contain pesticides residues of around 46 times more than the average approved internationally.”

Beirut MP Atef Majdalani, a physician, has also voiced his concern about poisoned fruits and vegetables, demanding that the food safety draft law be passed. The law was presented in 2003 but its ratification was suspended because of a fight over jurisdiction, Majdalani said last week. – The Daily Star

more....


Politicians' squabbles lead to poisonous produce

Daily Star staff
Friday, November 06, 2009

BEIRUT: Toxic substances could be present in fruit and vegetables and Lebanon should revive the food-safety law of 2003, warned MP Atef Majdalani on Thursday. Majdalani issued a statement in which he voiced his concern that all Lebanese were in danger of poisoning from fruit and vegetables due to the government’s neglect. He called for reopening the file of the food safety draft law presented in 2003 by late Minister Bassil Fleihan. The statement added that the draft law aimed at monitoring food in the country in order to guarantee people’s health. It however said that parliamentary discussions concerning the law were halted after the agriculture minister and the industry minister at the time refused it, claiming it deprived the ministries of their authorities. “The Lebanese are paying the price of fights over authorities … today we are witnessing ministries claiming they are not responsible and transferring responsibility to other ministries,” the statement also said. – The Daily Star


in L'orient le Jour today:


Les pesticides au Liban, un fiasco agricole et économique

Par Dalal MEDAWAR | 10/11/2009

L’accumulation dans le foie et le rein de matières toxiques contenues dans certains pesticides utilisés au Liban peut provoquer un cancer à long terme.
L’accumulation dans le foie et le rein de matières toxiques contenues dans certains pesticides utilisés au Liban peut provoquer un cancer à long terme.
Liban - Agriculture Le secteur de l'agriculture risque de souffrir des retombées économiques du scandale des fruits et légumes dits cancérigènes car contenant des résidus de produits chimiques.

Le ministre sortant de l'Environnement, Antoine Karam, a récemment dénoncé l'usage « arbitraire » des pesticides par les agriculteurs. En effet, les taux de pesticides contenus dans presque la moitié de notre production nationale de fruits et légumes sont anormalement élevés. Ils seraient potentiellement responsables à long terme de maladies cancérigènes.
Au cours d'un entretien avec la publication électronique al-Nashra, M. Karam a déclaré que « 40 % en moyenne des cultures » étaient touchées par ce problème, avec une proportion de produits agricoles souillés variant d'une région à l'autre. Malheureusement, alors que la majorité des ministères concernés se lancent la pierre à tour de bras, un secteur en particulier devrait faire les frais de cette débâcle : l'agriculture libanaise et, à travers elle, l'économie dans son ensemble. Comme d'habitude.

Un phénomène de masse
Le problème est qu'au-delà de celui, très grave, qui nous touche directement en tant que consommateurs, les chiffres cités par Antoine Karam touchent de près le secteur agricole dans son intégralité.
Une étude parue en 2004 et intitulée « Les filières fruits et légumes frais au Liban : structures, fonctionnement et perspectives » a été réalisée par Jean-Claude Montigaud pour l'Union européenne, l'ambassade de France, l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) ainsi que le gouvernement libanais. Selon cette étude, le Liban a produit plus de deux millions de tonnes de fruits et légumes en 2001, constituant 3,5 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) ou presque 600 millions de dollars. Si 40 % des cultures sont effectivement touchées par la crise des pesticides, les dégâts risquent de ce fait d'être graves, notamment au niveau des exportations.
Plus en détail, et toujours d'après Antoine Karam, 40 % des fraises, 32 % des oranges, 30 % des tomates, 49 % des concombres, 14 % des citrons, 33 % des prunes et 100 % des courgettes contiendraient des résidus de pesticides, nocifs en théorie et donc impropres à la consommation car « le lavage n'élimine pas les pesticides et les maladies n'apparaissent qu'après des années ».
En se basant sur les statistiques de 2001 citées dans l'étude de J-C Montigaud concernant la production agricole libanaise, cela voudrait dire qu'environ 12 000 tonnes de fraises, 100 000 tonnes de concombres, ou encore 11 000 tonnes de prunes seraient affectées par la présence de pesticides.
En ce qui concerne les exportations, un rapport paru en 2006 du ministère de l'Agriculture indique que 400 019 tonnes de fruits et légumes ont été exportées au cours de l'année, dont 58 804 tonnes d'oranges et plus de 16 000 tonnes de citrons. Les tomates ont quant à elles représenté en 2002 une production de 273 000 tonnes, avec 6 500 tonnes d'exportées. La perte sèche occasionnée par un refoulement potentiel de ces produits aux frontières des pays importateurs, notamment les pays du Golfe, s'évaluerait alors à des millions de dollars.

Pourquoi, comment, solutions ?
Le problème ne date pas d'hier. Cela fait des années que plusieurs autres organisations non gouvernementales dénoncent les pratiques agricoles illégales en vigueur dans l'ensemble du pays. Plusieurs décrets ont pourtant été votés pour réguler l'utilisation des pesticides et fongicides (la liste complète est disponible sur le site du ministère de l'Agriculture), mais le scandale récent lié à leur usage immodéré semble démontrer que ces mesures n'ont apparemment pas été appliquées, ou respectées par les agriculteurs.
M. Élia Choueiri, de l'Institut de recherches agricoles libanais (IRAL), a déclaré à L'Orient-le Jour que les pesticides représentaient un réel danger : « L'accumulation des matières toxiques dans le foie ou les reins peut provoquer un cancer à long terme. De plus, les enfants en bas âge sont beaucoup plus fragiles et donc susceptibles d'être gravement touchés par les effets nocifs des pesticides. Les cultures annuelles, comme la culture maraîchère et les cultures sous serre, notamment les concombres, les fraises et les tomates sont parmi les plus dangereuses à la consommation, si polluées. En effet, la chaleur élevée en serre favorise la multiplication des maladies et des insectes nuisibles, d'où une utilisation abusive de pesticides. Souvent, les agriculteurs ne respectent pas les délais d'attente obligatoires. J'ai moi-même vu certains d'entre eux récolter les fruits 48 heures après les avoir arrosés de matières chimiques toxiques. » Alors, quelles sont les solutions ?
Pour M. Choueiri, les solutions sont évidentes : une meilleure coordination entre les différents ministères et services, une législation claire, appliquée sur l'ensemble du territoire, un contrôle strict des produits agricoles, des ateliers de formation mis en place pour et par les agriculteurs, des séminaires de vulgarisation, de meilleures normes de stockage et d'hygiène au niveau des pesticides qui sont souvent très inflammables et de leur date de péremption... « Le problème réside surtout dans l'anarchie totale en vigueur dans ce pays. Les agriculteurs vont consulter n'importe quel charlatan qui a ouvert boutique au village, lequel en contrepartie leur revend des produits dangereux et surtout interdits à la vente, tel ce fongicide interdit en Europe depuis 2008 et que j'ai vu circuler librement au Liban. »
Il est néanmoins trop facile d'accuser l'agriculteur lambda d'irresponsabilité : le ministre sortant de l'Agriculture Élie Skaff, déclarait pourtant hier que l'agriculteur libanais était « le premier responsable de la violation des normes internationales dans l'utilisation des pesticides ». Certains exploitants ayant connaissance de cause sont effectivement plus que coupables.
Néanmoins, au vu de la crise de l'agriculture au Liban et la difficulté de certains producteurs à écouler leur marchandise en raison de la concurrence des pays voisins, peut-être serait-il plus judicieux de poursuivre une politique de coordination, d'information, de formation et de subventions au lieu de stigmatiser.

Coffe Morning at the Belgium Ambassador's House

Today I was invited by Mrs. Kathlyn Verkammen, wife of the Belgium ambassador, to give a speech on my work at their resident. I had two teams of producers come and discuss their story and show off their goods too. Nelly and Mona, better known as Imm Ali, joined us to make their delightful man'oushe with their homemade cheese, chanklish, and the traditional za'atar. Amal Harb, from Ajaltoun, came to sell and showcase her mouneh items. I spoke of my work: Man'oushe, the coming book Mouneh, and about the Slow Food foundation and Slow Food Beirut. The women seemed very interested and the ambiance was very friendly. We all discussed the important issue concerning pesticides and its use and abuse in vegetables all around Lebanon. I fear that now it's time to go 100% organic when all these issues are going on, especially that my children are eating all these fruits and vegetables. Don't these farmers have children? I am really concerned! Is making a dollar so important that they have to poison the society? What a crime... I shall be going to the farmer's market very soon to make a deal with a farmer to get poison-free vegetables! What about you?

A New Address for Fish

Today went to a lovely restaurant apparently known to a few selected customers, the fish eating type! Nestled on the road going to Saida in Khaldeh overlooking the Mediterranean sea, this cozy restaurant serves a very tasty meal. My favorite dish, apart from the barbecued fish, was the tarrator sauce seasoned with coriander, garlic, slices of green hot pepper, and a sprinkle of lemon juice. Out of this world! The raw fish in lemon sauce is quite tasty too... I highly recommend this restaurant. The prices are fair, a bit on the high end. Ask for Sayah Hassoun, the owner and the name of the restaurant. He speaks German too... For reservations, call 05-801022 or 03-206030.

An Unexpected Call

I was taking a little nap Friday afternoon, before the kids came from school. My mobile rang, "no!" I continued sleeping, can't be bothered with this now... I need a rest! I looked at the number and did not recognize it. It was not the school calling, as far I was concerned it was not an emergency. I went back to my comfortable long-awaited sleep. Nothing like it! Ten minutes later, again, the same number...
I put on my best "awakened" voice, it was the Minister of Culture, Tammam Salam. It took me a minute to focus, then I remembered I sent him my book. What a nice man, he congratulated me on the book, said the photos were great and that he was very keen on taking pictures himself, having learned from his father. He spoke about the book for a while and apologized for not having seen it before. What a nice gesture to have taken the time personally to call me, I really appreciated it... It gave me a boost to continue my very strenuous endeavor - finishing mouneh!!! I told him that now he was obliged to attend my next book signing, he agreed and we promised to keep in touch. I don't know if he will continue in politics in the new government that is being formed, but it was a real treat to have met Mr. Salam, and now I have a new fan!