Fresh, local and best
Nazwa Organic Farm Shop
Welcome if you’ve landed on this page looking for details of the Nazwa Organic Farm Shop. Since I wrote about their opening and (due to demand) added a location map, I’ve had many visitors who have found this useful. The good news is that they have just launched their own website and although it’s under construction in many areas, I’m sure it will match the quality of the rest of their fantastic enterprise soon.
Having a diet of mainly organically sourced foods is not easy if you live in Dubai and I found the following post on Fresh, Local and Best blogspot really helpful (wherever you live in the world) when prioritising your shopping. The Environmental Working Group with findings analysed by the Department of Agriculture in the U.S. identified 12 types of fruit and vegetables which are likely to be the most contaminated with pesticides and chemicals (and are therefore top of the list if you are trying to buy organic). Of the 12 most contaminated foods, aptly dubbed “The Dirty Dozen” seven are fruits: peaches, strawberries, apples, domestic blueberries, nectarines, cherries and imported grapes. Of the vegetables celery, peppers, spinach, kale, collard greens (a type of cabbage) and potatoes are most likely to retain pesticide contamination (read the article for full details). The list also contains information about the least contaminated items too (including onions).
Organic peppers
Although this is a report from the States, I can’t help feeling that these findings would apply equally to the imported (and probably the local) produce that makes up most of the fruit and vegetables on our supermarket shelves. The demand for organic, local produce in Dubai has been shown by the speed at which the goods in the Nazwa shop disappear. It would be great if someone acted on the business opportunity that I’m sure exists for local, free-range organic chicken. Back to recipes for the next post – but please let me know if you’ve found this little bit of information useful. Happy and healthy shopping and eating.
Postscript: Nazwa Organic shop has since been closed.
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My Custard Pie 
Sally,
Thanks for the wonderful info on the link to Nazwa Organic Market. In the UAE is there any organic certification such as in the US?
Off topic: I am moving to the UAE – Al Ain, specifically in a few weeks. Can I bring a few spices to cook with. The thought of setting up a kitchen and starting with absolutely nothing is pretty scary. Especially with no car, no furniture, etc. In the US, we can bring in ground spices, but not seeds. What is the rule in the UAE?
Sherri V
Thanks Sherri. The UAE Ministry of Agriculture gives certification and seems to be taking this seriously. Organic, local production is still in early stages here. Not sure what is available to you in Al Ain but spices available in abundance in Dubai (including organic through the Organic Foods and Cafe stores). I’m sure you won’t need to bring anything (can’t vouch for customs rules but they are strict). Keep in touch and good luck with your move.
I’m glad to hear that there is a strong demand for organic products in the UAE. Consumer demand is the strongest driver to a achieving more and better food choices.