The organic food alfresco event Ripe Market is returning to Abu Dhabi, opening at a new location at Al Maryah Island starting next month.
Ripe Market will open on Friday, December 2 and will run every weekend on Friday and Saturday from 3 pm to 10 pm until April.
Shoppers at Ripe Market at Al Maryah Island can buy from local vendors who will be selling an abundance of local organic fruits and vegetables from their own farms and other local farmers. The market stalls will also feature superfoods, tea, local raw honey, organic eggs and artisan gluten-free items.
Alongside healthy foods, visitors can choose from miscellaneous gifts, garments, homewares, wooden items as well as jewellery and hand-crafted toys.
In addition, shoppers can sample dishes from food vendors.
Ripe Market is a community-led business that was established in 2011 with the purpose to give home-grown businesses a platform to display their hand-crafted products and nurture their business in the UAE. It hosts various outdoor Ripe Markets across the region, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with its flagship location in Umm Sequim.
More than 100 businesses flock to the market each week, including farmers and food merchants.
The exact location for Ripe Market Al Maryah Island is yet to be confirmed.
The extensive growth of the organic sector and the deluge of organic start-ups stem from the UAE residents’ aspiration to prioritise local and pesticide-free produce and play their part in developing sustainable consumption patterns.
According to Blue Weave Consulting report, the UAE organic food market was expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate over 22 per cent between 2018 and 2026 in terms of value.
Eighty per cent of consumers surveyed in the UAE reported their preference for organic foods, Statista report reveals.
