By Qout Market
Qout Market, the first large farmer’s market in Kuwait, will be launching this year in November. It will be held on the first Saturday of every month throughout the growing season and will last until April, from 10 in the morning until 10 in the evening. The market is co-organized by Noaf Hussein of Pretty Little Things and Budour Al-Qassar of The Oven Experiments. Two avid foodies at heart, they’ve worked long and hard to deliver a format well deserving of an authentic farmer’s market experience. This initiative, ultimately, helps to support local food producers and encourage people to eat local, seasonal fresh food.
The first installment, as well as following markets, will be held at a popular urban location and will this season be located in Kuwait City at Arraya Plaza, the outdoor space between Arraya Centre and the parking lot.
This market first took shape when it was presented as part of the 2012 Middle East-North Africa Active Citizen Summit, organized by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), in partnership with the US State Department. Budour Al-Qassar, along with 60 other young delegates from the MENA region, presented their active citizen projects in Washington DC, and the farmers market was the project she presented. At the end of the summit, the ACYPL gave out small grants to selected participants. They chose one project from each country and the farmer’s market project was chosen from Kuwait.
The name of this market is the Arabic word qout, which literally translates into ‘food,’ and this market is all about the wonderful realm of food. Most importantly, Qout Market is a community-based farmers market that aims to help and support local/regional farmers/artisans, and serves as an educational tool.
The format will be based on the ones we have come to love abroad, with open tents and organic displays, but there will be a spin on it. The market’s selection of vendors will include a combination of fresh produce and flowers, food items like fresh bread, cheese, honey, jams, and pickles as well as hand made items like crafts, soaps, and candles. In addition to all these items, a selection of hot food stands where people can pick up a variety of quick bites to enjoy on the spot, will be available. The focus will be on local chefs and local concepts.
In addition to meeting vendors, the vision for the market includes setting up talks on healthy eating habits and presentations on cooking and growing your own organic food. A community can hopefully be formed from which everyone will learn and benefit, as well as create a platform for educational activities the whole family can enjoy.
For more information, check out @Qoutmarket on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For interested participants, please email qoutmarket@gmail.com.
