JEDDAH: Azka Farmers Market returned with a special edition dedicated to the golden world of honey, offering a three-day celebration for honey lovers, curious tasters, and enthusiasts eager to explore the diverse flavors and varieties sourced from across Saudi Arabia.

Held at Hayy Jameel until Nov. 15, the market includes an engaging program of activities. 

Families and children enjoyed interactive sessions at Hayy Explorers and talks at Saha featuring some of the country’s leading beekeepers and food experts.

Ahmad Zaki Kamel, founder of AzkaFoods and Azkabasket.com, told Arab News that this edition of the market was dedicated to honey for two key reasons. 

“First, it marks the beginning of the spring season here in Arabia, when most wildflowers start to bloom. Second, we have beekeepers and honey producers from all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia joining us, each bringing something unique. 

“We handpick everyone based on Azka’s ethical principles, which include using ancient strains of Arabian bees. Many producers today rely on imported bees, which threaten local biodiversity by attacking native colonies. 

“All our honey comes from local strains, is raw, unpasteurized, and in many cases organic-certified. It’s some of the finest honey you can find in Saudi Arabia, if not the world. 

“We’re thrilled to host our beekeepers here, and we have several talks planned every day, including a session on the final day with Faiz Al Qithamy, who’s considered to be the leader of beekeepers in Saudi Arabia.”

Visitors had the opportunity to meet several beekeepers and learn about the unique processes that contribute to Saudi Arabia’s exceptional honey. 

Emad Al-Ahmadi, manager at Wild Honey, said: “Our honey comes from the mountains north of Madinah, where the ‘Figra’ wild honey is produced by the Ahmadi family. 

“The beehives are six kilometers from the nearest highway, providing a pollution-free and chemical-free environment for the bees to roam freely among natural flowers. 

“This setting ensures the honey is exceptionally pure and unpolluted. We begin our harvest early in the morning and spend eight to nine hours collecting it. 

“Azka Farmers Market gives us a great opportunity to educate consumers about this natural, high-quality honey, which is rarely found in supermarkets.”

Saudi Arabia’s first certified organic honey producer, Jassim Al-Mughrabi, shared insights on his unique honey products. 

“Our new product is the mangrove honey. This tree is planted near the seashore and takes water from salty water, which nourishes it and gives beautiful flowers in May. During this period, we produce the honey. 

“Our product is very unique because we produce cedar honey from wild cedar trees, usually flowering from June to September in the central part of Saudi Arabia, where temperatures reach 50 degrees in the shade. 

“At that time, no other flowers bloom in this area, so the honey remains very light in color. 

“Other cedar honey from southern and western regions, flowering in October and November, mixes with other flowers and becomes darker. 

“We also produce Samra honey from the southern region around 80 kilometers south, flowering in May with very high temperatures. We are the first organic producers in the Kingdom, and we work with Ceres Company.”

The market also attracted artisans and producers extending beyond honey. 

Alaa Ali, founder of Homie Care, presented natural skincare products developed with clinical expertise. 

“I’m a clinical pharmacist, and I took the bloom, making organic skincare formulations according to European standards. I wanted to create high-quality products that truly deliver on their promise while being natural, ethical, and sustainable.”

She added: “All our products come in glass containers to support conscious consumerism. We have magnesium-concentrated creams for relaxation, muscle and joint care, hydrating creams for eczema or dry skin, and lotions enriched with borage and tamanu oils for healing. 

“I joined Azka Farmers Market to raise awareness about these products, which are hard to find in the community, and to connect with consumers who value natural and ethical choices.”

The market also celebrated Saudi Arabia’s food heritage through the Ark of Taste project. 

Kamel said: “Today, over 120 products have been registered in the global Ark of Taste, a project started by Slow Food International. 

“Through Slow Food Saudi Arabia, we registered 120 products at risk of extinction, either culturally or environmentally. 

“In the market, we have a section where we display as many of these Ark of Taste products as possible to raise awareness and give people a chance to taste and buy them, so that we can help preserve our unique and important food heritage.”

From local, organic, and seasonal produce to baked goods, eco-conscious products, and handmade crafts, the market displayed the best of Saudi farmers, producers, and vendors.