Being an environmentalist , I have been trying to go for organic food as much as possible to help reduce carbon footprint and to have pure /natural food.

I was very happy to  know that  on 1^st Nov 2013  an exclusive organic market was launched at Safa park in Dubai to give  UAE residents the opportunity to purchase healthy products.  Last Friday I visited this market myself and really liked the fact that this market sells everything from fresh organic vegetables and fruits, to homemade jams, oils, organic coffee and gluten-free chocolate that are not often found in the outside /open market. This organic market is organised by Dubai Municipality in coordination with Ripe Fresh, a company supporting local, organic farms and will be operating on weekly basis every Friday (9 am to 2 pm)  until June 2014.

All the products  sold are from local farms, licensed and accredited by the Ministry of Environment and Water. A total of 70 merchants  participate in this market.

I really appreciate this initiative of Dubai Municipality to raise environmental and  health awareness among public. This market is really a blessing for environment and health conscious people.

I would now like to highlight  why organic food is better :

1. Conventional farming methods consist of using chemical fertilizers and hormones to stimulate growth and insecticides to prevent disease.  Organic farming instead uses natural fertilizers and other natural methods to promote growth and combat disease.  Thus organic production methods are generally better for the environment.

2. Organic food can taste better because it is grown naturally and often crop varieties are used that produce lower yields but better flavor. Producing the organic items locally and eating them soon after harvest can improve the taste as well.

3. Some studies have shown higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health, in organically produced milk.  This may be because cows reared using organic methods spend more time eating grass and clover. Organic dairy products are reported to help with childhood eczema. Organic fruit and vegetables are also reported to have higher levels of antioxidants than those that are conventionally grown.


4. If the organic food is sourced locally, it also supports farmers and businesses in our own area. If we are supporting local /organic farmers means we are helping in reducing demand for import of food from foreign countries which again means we are helping to reduce carbon footprint.

Organic food is, however, more expensive than conventionally sourced food as it requires more time and work to grow but I  believe that instead of paying a price for curing ill health , we better pay for healthier choices. More competition, wider availability and greater volumes will gradually bring prices also down.

There are now around 38 certified organic farms in the UAE — up from only eight certified farms in 2012 . UAE Ministry of Environment and Water is campaigning to promote local organic food. The Ministry offers organic fertilisers, organic seeds and nature-friendly pesticides to these organic farmers at half the price of the market value.

Another major disadvantage is  that most organic food has a shorter shelf life than non-organic food products.  Preservatives are not used on processing organic food,so it spoils more quickly. This is a disadvantage for both consumers and stores, as it can be quite costly in the end.