Reasons to be   I  El Tayeb   I   1st farmers market in lebanon  I  Organic, to be or not to be  I  When & where

ONCE UPON A TIME

Souk el tayeb has to be a forum ... A meeting place where both ends can meet, producers and consumers, thinkers and activists, dreamers and achievers ... Give a reason and a way to every constructive act.

This is why this market has never been just a place to sell and buy, but much more than that, sharing believes and acting for a better life and a better world.  

So for Souk el tayeb, or any similar project or idea, to have its existence¹s right, it must first promote its idea and concept. The reason to be.

The reason is not at all just organic ... But beyond that.

Through souk el tayeb, we are trying to promote for the fist time a general holistic approach of awareness ... Life awareness. Souk el tayeb is not an organic market ... It is so but much more too. It is a dream and a reality of joining ends ... Like we rarely did or do Joining ends or melting boxes ... Boxes where all is categorised to stand by itself and never react.

In clearer terms, Souk el tayeb is a farmers market, that exist to promote first a better contribution to life. This is through proper agriculture, animal welfare, community development, tradition preservation, lost species saving ... Different ways of one message of life awareness and better contribution to life.

Its action is so clear and simple ... Just gather and join, bring people together, so farmers will have a reason to produce and consumers will find their needs.

A better contribution to life has been the worry and the action of so many ... Happily ... Until now. But the action has always been on separate levels, in distinct separate boxes, like for instance ecology ... And just that, or animal welfare, organic farming, fair trade, perpetuating or rediscovering taste and food tradition ... Every concern is so important by itself, but much more when linked with other concerns and considerations. Joining ends was rarely thought of and achieved.

For Souk el Tayeb to be, this holistic general approach is the only way : informing, educating and promoting a better way of life and a better contribution to life.

All of this can be achieved by simple action first to exist, to have a friendly space ( friendly on all levels ... Agriculture, ecology, human rights ... As well as animal rights or welfare) in the city and all around the country, the region and the world ... Inshallah

Then to promote awareness and ideas, through clear and daring messages ... An advertising campaign using souk el tayeb as façade and promoting its believes and ideas

And to share every similar action, in the souk ... Weekly talks and meetings to share experiences, ideas, problems and solutions all about life awareness and care
 
A souk has always been a gathering place, a melting pot and a productive space ... Let us keep it this way.

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EL TAYEB 

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Tayeb in Arabic means “good” … good as of taste, but as of character too. We would say it is a good tomato, for its great taste, and say good about a person, for the manners and personality. 

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In Arabic we would say also good, meaning alive … that man is still good, he is still alive.

Good taste, good energy and life are what we always try to add to Souk el Tayeb  

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FIRST FARMERS MARKET IN LEBANON  

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Souk el Tayeb is the first farmers market in Lebanon . Oriental medinah, old cities, are well known for their markets, colorful and exotic, but these are just selling places, without any producer being involved directly or present. 

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Lebanon has always had many weekly markets too, which nearly disappeared after the war, or are still existing in a few regions, but with one concern of cheapest price, and unfortunately cheapest quality too, and very often for imported goods. 

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Souk el Tayeb novelty is about being a farmers market … where only producers – farmers, bakers, cooks … come and sell their own products; a direct contact from producer to consumer. 

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A pot of jam is not just that, but linked to a person, a human being … Weekly markets are meetings, reunions for everybody.

Recognition is the best reward for each producer … for what they are doing about preserving traditions and life. 

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ORGANIC, TO BE OR NOT TO BE 

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Souk el Tayeb began in its concept as an organic market, but soon changed to be a farmers’ market, of fresh, local, seasonal food products – natural, traditional and organic, if possible. 

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“Organic” is not just an adjective, or a name that anyone can add on products, but a very strict label that can be obtained only through specific certifying bodies. 

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(more details about certification and labeling, coming soon)

Since September 05, Souk el Tayeb has been divided in 2 clear sections : the first one, clearly labeled “organic” is for certified products.

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WHEN & WHERE 

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Souk el Tayeb is an open- air weekly market, all year round … earth gives us goodies all the time and we are always here to taste and consume. 

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Souk el Tayeb is held every Saturday in Saifi Village parking (from 9 to 2) and soon again every Tuesday in Hamra ( from 9 to 2)

A new project is prepared in collaboration with the municipallity of Beirut , in Ramlet el Baida,to make of the farmers’ market project a public concern.

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Souk el Tayeb has to go regional too, Tripoli, Saida, Batroun … for local regional food specialties in every market.

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