“Souq El-Dayaa” in Lattakia Supports the slogan “ from Producer to Consumer”

From savoring produce at the peak of freshness to meeting the people who grow your food, there are countless reasons to support farmers markets.

There are many benefits to buying locally grown food, and each person makes their choice for different reasons. Locally grown food creates important economic opportunities, provides health benefits and helps reduce environmental impact.

Shedding light on this unique experience Syriatimes e-newspaper visited “Souq Al-Dayaa” (the village market), which is organized twice a week at Al-Sultan park in Lattakia by “Souq El-Dayaa” civil society association there.

A number of farmers display a wide range of hand-made products including excellent food industries like dairy products by rural women including jam, pickles, concentrated juice in addition to oil, soap and dry medical plants, traditional handicrafts, cosmetic and accessories made of natural plants as well as many other household products which Syrian rural women can produce with high quality and free of chemical and preservative materials. 

 In the light of the difficult economic conditions that the Syrian people are suffering from and the inflation of prices, “Souq El –Dayaa” plays an important role in displaying farmers’ products directly from the producer to the consumer at low prices compared to the market”. Syriatimes e-newspaper met several producers, who are benefiting from “Soquk  El-Dayaa” through marketing their hand-made products there.

Mrs. Marie  Zein, who is seventy-six years old, is an   attractive and distinguished woman with positive  energy , hope and  insistence . She  managed  to turn her  land , which was full of rocks , into  a paradise   full of  life and useful plants with the aim of producing  healthy  natural food products. 

 Mrs. Zein told the Syriatimes “ land is everything in life, our connection to the land is the source of the entity, so we have to deepen our roots in the land.  Nature was and still is a vital field for human beings . Our relationship with nature should be more loving. We should plant the seeds of environmental awareness. When the earth is fine, we are fine and doing well. When the earth is filled with pollution and toxins, it will reflect negatively on the human being”. 

“A person feels the spirit of youth through  his mind, his independence,  activity, inner renewal and work. I am ready to work in the rock because work has a great value in human life” Mrs. Zein expressed.

She  started her  work  30 years ago and  managed to be successful due to  perseverance, strength, vigor and optimism for a bright future. 

“Agriculture alone is not enough so I have decided to exert my utmost efforts  to  carry out  an integrated unit whose slogan is “plant… manufacture… sell. I have begun to plant and introduce healthy food products which are free of preservatives, colorings and chemicals materials  using simple machines”. Mrs. Zein said . 

She indicated that her  products include: concentrated juices, water Roses, blossom water, vinegar, dried figs, thyme, tomato  and pepper  paste molasses, pomegranate molasses, soap  and all kinds of healthy natural  herbs.

All kinds of Mrs. Zein’s products  bear  “ Tata Marie” (grandmother) brand based on the desire of her children, grandchildren, friends and everyone who bought  her  products. 

She stressed that Souk El-Dayaa  is an important platform where she  feels  happy to  communicate  with people  and raise  the awareness about the importance of natural healthy food products through introducing her experience in this field. 

“ my message to all women is to  never submit to circumstances no matter how bad they are, because we have hope to rise and move forward to overcome all challenges .  With work we rise and win.  Do  not give up, you  must be flexible and optimistic in all areas of life and believe in change for the better. Despite the darkness of the world around us, we are the spotlight” Mrs. Zein concluded. 

On his part ,  Iyad Khwandi  lost the sense of sight and overcame it and all obstacles  with determination. He  challenged himself with his strong will and chose the profession of straw industry  as it depends on the sense of touch.

 “ I am very impressed with the Syrian traditional  industries.  After I lost my sight ten years ago. I joined the Association for Taking Care of Blind in Lattakia  and  carried out  a training  course on straw  industry within the framework of  the association’s contribution to reviving  the ancient Syrian Heritage” the youth Khwandi said.

“It is a unique and distinguished experience for me. As it gives me a feeling of hope, life and optimism, and enhances my  presence  in the  society . This experience turned me  from a blind person into a person who works with precision, creativity and professionalism” he expressed.

He  makes  various straw  products  including  boxes for napkins, fruit  and vegetables baskets and  straw dishes as well as  big traditional straw plates for decorations.

 “I  hope  to have my own  straw industry  workshop . with my strong will I replaced loosing my sight with working hard and overcoming all challenges . When a person gives life happiness, satisfaction  and giving, life will give him all these things in return “ he  concluded.

it is noteworthy to mention that “Souq El-Dayaa” is witnessing a remarkable turn out and accompanied by holding constantly several activities for farmers, visitors and their children, the most important of which are training workshops and campaigns of afforestation, cleaning as well as recycling waste materials and papers.

Interviewed by : Rawaa Ghanam

Photos by : Rawaa Ghanam