The residents of Burj Khalifa and its surrounding colony of modern high-rise buildings are accustomed to the best money can buy when it comes to food. Some of Dubai's finest restaurants and biggest supermarkets are within walking distance of the city's new downtown. Now, they will have access to the city's healthiest too.
As The National has reported recently, the Baker and Spice farmers' market is coming to Souk al Bahar today, offering freshly picked fruits and vegetables from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah, Dubai and Oman.
Of course, the market will welcome all of Dubai's residents and it is hoped that others like it continue to sprout across the city. Furthermore, the social interaction with the stall owners should be an eye-opening experience for buyers long disconnected with where our packaged food comes from.
"In about two generations, we've lost the ability to make, judge and understand food," said Yael Mejia, the food consultant at Baker and Spice, adding that supermarkets take advantage of people's ignorance. "People don't want to know how food happens."
Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, was fond of saying: "Give me agriculture and I shall give you civilisation." Let us hope that this new market will also give us community.
