An amazing and delicious range of local fruits and vegetables grown in Saudi Arabia will be in the spotlight with the It's season promotion, launched in Saudi Arabia Monday (Aug. 8, 2021). Launched in three major cities, the it's season promotion helps local farmers and supports the Ministry's idea of 'farm-to-table' sustainability in the food chain. Dr. Suliman Alkhtib, assistant of deputy minister of Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) in Riyadh Region, and Dr. Majid Al Farraj, director general of MEWA in Riyadh Region, Eng. Amer Al-Mutairi, director of MEWA in the Eastern Province, Dr. Galib Alsaedi, deputy director manager of MEWA in the Western Region, along with Shehim Mohammed, director of LuLu Saudi Hypermarkets, other invited guests, media representatives, and LuLu officials graced the launch event. This month, it is grapes season along with watermelon, banana, and papaya. All the local produce will be available at specially discounted prices. "The Saudi Ministry of Electricity, Water and Agriculture is committed to supporting local farmers and as the largest retail operation in the Kingdom, we are very happy that LuLu is our partner in this movement of local food production sustainability," said the Dr. Alkhtib. "We are experimenting with exciting new agricultural techniques to promote local produce and are sure customers will love the fresh local taste." This initiative will be implemented across all the LuLu Hypermarkets in Saudi Arabia. "LuLu plays a big role in market sustainability and food security and we see this as a promotion that works for local farmers as well as customers," said Mohammed. "Today we stock nearly 60 tons of local produce fruits a week—four varieties of grapes, three varieties of dates, two varieties of watermelon, banana and papaya." In addition, LuLu's annual purchase of Saudi-grown fruit and vegetables stands at 25,000 tons and this includes watermelon, banana, papaya, cucumber, tomato, onion, potato, capsicum, melons, mangoes, herbs, and leaves. — SG
