https://arab.news/mkh4q
JEDDAH: The Azka Farmers Market has returned for a three-day summer edition at Hayy Jameel, bringing together farmers, producers and visitors from across Saudi Arabia in a celebration of seasonal produce, sustainability and community exchange.
Held under Art Jameel’s community programs as part of the Hayy Markets initiative, this edition highlights a vibrant selection of summer fruits sourced from farms across the Kingdom, including melons, plums, apples, bananas, peaches, apricots, figs, papaya and a variety of berries.
Alongside fresh produce, the market also offers an expanded program of children’s activities, workshops, film screenings, talks and immersive experiences designed for families and visitors of all ages.
Ahmad Zaki Kamel, founder of Azka Foods and Azkabasket.com, said the market reflects a deeper shift in consumer awareness and behaviour over the past several years.
“There has been a real shift over the last 6 years, consumers are no longer just asking what they are eating, but where it came from and who grew it,” he said.
“The Azka Farmers Market is where that curiosity becomes a relationship. When a Jeddah family stands face-to-face with a farmer from Baha, Aseer or Al-Jouf, trust is built not through a label but through a conversation. Over 16 editions, we have seen that transformation happen thousands of times,” he viewed.
Noting that the market is rooted in values, he said: “We founded Azka on the Qur’anic belief that good food is inseparable from clean practices and fair exchange, the market is where that belief becomes tangible. Our farmers’ resilience never stops inspiring us.
“Across Saudi Arabia’s 13 agricultural regions, we are seeing ancestral knowledge meet modern sustainable practice. Ancient varieties chosen for their hardiness, ancient water-efficient techniques revived, and soil health protected through intercropping and organic practices.”
Speaking about this summer’s edition, he said: “The Summer Fruits Edition clearly demonstrates this shift, with a rich variety of stone fruits, figs, grapes, apples, bananas, melons, berries, prickly pear and mangoes our farmers are bringing to Jeddah grown right here in the Kingdom that reflects not a compromise in quality, but a deepening of it.”
Fawaz Al-Faqeeh, owner of Local Almond Farm, spoke about the seasonal cycle of almond production, explaining that the process runs from planting in December and January through harvesting and growth until June, followed by drying and final processing.
“The season is around five months from January to June, and after drying you get the final product,” he said, noting that the market has been “very rich” in product variety and community participation.
Another participating farmer, Abdurrahman Abdullah Mohawish, owner of Safwat Altala Farm, said the rising demand for organic produce reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior, as more people turn towards natural and locally sourced food options.
He said his farm produces a range of organic fruits and vegetables using self-made fertilisers created from recycled organic waste.
“We produce all kinds of fruit and vegetables, it’s organic. We make our own fertilizer by recycling leftovers from food and vegetables and treating the plants with it,” he said.
He added that the farm also produces items such as strawberry jam and peach pickles, all made in-house.
Originally from Al-Baha, Mohawish said this was his first participation in the Jeddah market, following previous sales in Riyadh, Makkah and Taif, noting strong demand in the city.
“Most people now look for organic food and go back to nature, so we prepare it for them. We do it with love,” he said.
He added that his agricultural experience spans more than three decades across multiple countries, including Egypt and the UK, and that he has developed around 45 products in Saudi Arabia over the years.
This season’s offerings include strawberries, blackberries, eggplants, American lettuce and corn he described as exceptionally sweet and suitable for raw consumption.
For some participants, the market also serves as a platform to explore new audiences and understand evolving consumer needs.
Duha Al-Mulla, owner and founder of Znjabila, said her participation is closely linked to her personal journey with health and nutrition.
“I have had gut health issues since 2001 and three years ago I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, which led me to adopt a therapeutic diet focused on gluten-free, sugar-free and organic food,” she said.
The Azka Farmers Market continues until June 6, offering visitors a seasonal snapshot of Saudi Arabia’s agricultural diversity.