Why Lebanon
Sourcing from Lebanon offers you unique opportunities to get products with superb taste, cultivated by small farmers combining a long standing tradition with the latest innovation. Discover more about the 5 main reasons for sourcing from Lebanon.
A heritage of exquisite taste
Lebanese fruits and vegetables don’t only benefit from a Mediterranean climate but also from favorable micro-climates, abundant water resources and fertile soils. For centuries, these provide the crops with conditions that lead to exquisite tastes heralded by chefs and consumers around the world. It’s for a reason that Lebanon has a long standing tradition as a culinary paradise, flavoured by premium fresh products.
Complementing calendars
Lebanon offers interesting off-season sourcing options. The harvest of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon complements the calendar of Mediterranean countries like Italy and Spain as well as Latin American countries like Chile, Peru and Brazil.
Innovation
Driven by the Agrytech accelerator programme under the Qoot cluster programme, and in collaboration with the Dutch food valley, innovations are rapidly reshaping Lebanese agriculture. Agri start-ups are supported and new technologies are introduced to grow new varieties, boost productivity, and stimulate sustainability.
Sustainable sourcing with impact
The proximity to European and Gulf markets, makes Lebanon an interesting sustainable sourcing destination. Compared to suppliers from Latin America and Asia, the CO2 footprint from shipments of fresh produce from Lebanon is much smaller. The small scale farming and job opportunities that are provided to Syrian refugees lead to direct social and economic impact at farm household level and add to the sustainability score card.
Meeting international standards
Increasing numbers of farmers show their commitment towards food safety, traceability and responsible farm practices. Over the last 2 years alone, some 135 farms have been certified against the GlobalGAP standard. On top of that, many farms comply with GRASP or follow the requirements of the Sedex social audit (SMETA). Moreover, many farms are organic certified.
