Umm Salal Winter Festival starts today to support local farms and products

Published: 21 November 2024

Several events planned including Dates Exhibition, Flowers Exhibition, Honey, Strawberry & Figs Exhibition

Qatar News Agency
Doha

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Municipality represented by the Agricultural Affairs Department, and in cooperation with Hassad Food Company, Umm Salal Winter Festival is set to be inaugurated in its first edition on Thursday at Umm Salal Central Market.

The festival will host several important events and exhibitions from Nov. 21, 2024, until Feb. 19, 2025, with the aim of supporting local products, by providing a suitable marketing platform for local producers throughout the winter season.

On this occasion, Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality Yousef Khalid Al Khulaifi said: “The launch of Umm Salal Winter Festival aims to support local farm owners and provide guidance to farmers to enhance the quality of local products as well as achieve efficiency in production, in addition to increasing the economic return to farm owners.”

For his part, Chief Executive Officer of Hassad Food Eng. Ali Hilal Al Kuwari emphasized the importance of cooperation and roles integration between state institutions to support local products.

Al Kuwari welcomed the participation of the “Families of Home-Grown Projects” in the festival.

“Umm Salal Winter Festival” schedule starts with the “Dates exhibition,” which takes place between Nov. 21-30, followed by the “Traditional Market exhibition” during the period Dec. 5-14, then the “Flowers Exhibition from Dec. 19-26, 2024.

The exhibitions will continue in 2025, which will start with the “Honey Exhibition,” from Jan.9-18, followed by the “Strawberry & Figs Exhibition” from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, and finally the festival concludes its exhibition with “Kanar Exhibition” from Feb. 13-19, 2025.

Moreover, in collaboration with the Family Empowerment Department at the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Hassad Food dedicated a prominent space for the “Families of Home-Grown Projects” to showcase their products to the festival visitors throughout the festivals full duration, with the aim of supporting them and advancing their efforts.

Umm Salal Central Market is one of six integrated markets managed by Aswaq for Food Facilities Management Company (a subsidiary of Hassad Food).

The central market includes fish market, auction hall, Al Mazrouaa’ yard (a space for fresh produce), private slaughterhouse, shaded barns, vegetables, fruits and dates shops. It also includes meat shops, ice factory, supermarket, mosque and administrative offices.