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| Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity |
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12/03/2009 |
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Tel Aviv Farmers' Market
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With a favorable resolution from the Slow Food International Presidents, the Tel Aviv Farmers Market has officially become a member of the international Earth Markets network.
The Tel Aviv Farmers’ Market opened on May 16, 2008 in the New Port area: it is the first producers’ market in Israel and from the outset took the Slow Food Earth Markets project as a reference. The two organizers, Shir Halpern and Michal Ansky, are journalists and writers interested in all aspects of food and its history. Michal completed a Master in Food Culture program at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Colorno. These two young women embody the spirit and energy present in the market, which is the result of their passion and drive.
The market is held every Friday with about 30 stalls and a large variety of products ranging from olive oil to wine, goat cheese to beer. There are many stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables and of course the great traditional foods of Near Eastern food culture, such as tahini or sesame paste, which while well-known for its use in hummus, is also used in a large number of traditional Israeli sweet specialties.
 The market is located in the recently renovated part of the port, full of bars and restaurants and very popular at weekends. Tel Aviv is a young bustling city, which makes the most of its proximity to the sea. It\'s pleasant to just wander about the market: the public come from all social groups and benefit from the high quality products (many restaurateurs in fact come here early in the morning to find the best produce) and very reasonable prices by city standards.
The diverse backgrounds of the customers are mirrored in those of the producers, who belong to several ethnic and religious groups and come from all over the country.
As in so many farmers’ markets, the communication and interaction between producers and customers is a wonderful extra consequence of direct sale. Witnessing the looks and the words of the person who actually kneaded the bread or picked the tomatoes enhances the flavor when you bring the product to the table.
In July 2008 a delegation from the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity visited the Tel Aviv market to assess its qualifications for entrance in the Earth Markets network. Following the visit, and at the request of the market organization, several derogations and specifications with regard to the Market Guidelines, specific to Israel, were proposed. In October 2008 the Tel Aviv market participated with market stand at Salone del Gusto as an Earth Market’s candidate, and in February 2009, they officially became an Earth Market, following the International Presidents’ resolution.
For more information on Tel Aviv Earth Market please visit:
http://www.farmersmarket.co.il/bloge/?page_id=136
Tel Aviv Earth Market is supported by the Tuscany Regional Authority
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