Saturday Farmers’ Market becomes family favourite

Manama : If you are looking for a purposeful, educational and entertaining morning outside your home - a place where you can bring your whole family, or simply wander around aimlessly with friends - then Bahrain Farmers’ Market is the place to be!

Organised by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development at the Budaiya Botanical Garden, it is an event not to be missed. One can buy a whole banquet of food for just a few dinars.

Every Saturday morning, Budaiya will bustle with excitement and anticipation as people rush to the local farmers’ market. All sorts of people, whether locals or expats, children or adults, throng the area to be a part of this local initiative. 

It’s a win-win situation; local farmers sell their homegrown fruits and vegetables, while the public get a chance to eat something they know that has been grown in Bahrain, and not in some exotic land. 

The market opens every Saturday from 8am – 12pm. By the time the clock chimes 8am, hundreds of people are already picking out their tomatoes and eggplants for the week. Those who come first will be able to get their hands on the best produce and first pickings.

And there are some sensational sights too – like gigantic beetroots and prize-worthy, head-turning, turnips.

Fahad Jaffar, from Diraz, said, “The market is a nice place to visit during the weekend, and I love the traditional Bahraini breakfast they serve here.”

His wife, Naheed Jaffar, added, “In Bahrain most people go to the mall and we don’t usually have many outdoor events like this. It is unique and rewarding to buy food straight from the farmer who grows it.”

Meanwhile, Katharine McMillan from Saar said she has been visiting the market each Saturday since it opened in December. 

“I’m obviously here to experience the agricultural side of Bahrain,” she said, “I am interested in checking out the price difference between supermarket produces and the produces I buy directly from the local farmers.”

“There are lots of tasty meals and snacks, too. I personally enjoy the homemade waffles. It makes a nice change from my usual boring breakfast,” added McMillan.