Qatar’ s Trailblazers |

Welcome to Torba Farmers’ Market, the latest arrival on the Doha social scene.

A riot of colour, Torba is a community-inspired farmers’ market hosted by Qatar Foundation at Education City. It has rapidly become the place to be seen in Doha.

It has humble roots, however, according to founder Fatma Al Khater.“ People in Doha had lost their connection to food,” she says.“ I wanted to bring that connection back. We had a farmers’ market, but it was a working wholesale market for trade. Now everyone is involved.”

Inspired by Coconut Grove Organic Market in Miami and Borough Market in London, Fatma wanted to showcase nourishing Qatari food, with a low impact on the planet.

Now, abundant Swiss chard, spring onions, greens, beetroot, numerous varieties of colourful tomatoes, and four different kinds of kale can be found alongside artisan produce, including soaps and beauty creams. Local wild herb remedies are also on offer, as are nut butters, jams and honey.

A Danish baker comes with pastries she has baked through the nights and trays of fresh sourdough bread.

Green juice of the day, made from sparklingly fresh spinach, pak choi, kale or moringa picked at 6am, is ready by 9am for the hordes of mothers with young children, students, and residents who visit the open-air market.

At the‘ farm table’, local chefs cook seasonal dishes with the Torba food, while the aroma of freshly-ground artisan coffee lingers over the stalls.

Regulars include Mama Baba Ganoush, Superheroes Eat Plants, and Greenola. There are seeds and seedlings on offer for those ambitious enough to grow their own food at home.

The name‘ Torba’ is derived from Arabic. It means‘ the pure soil that feeds, nourishes and nurtures’. Health is a priority – the juices and vegan bakes on offer would not be out of place in California.

For a country known for skyscrapers, big cars and sand dunes, Torba Farmers’ Market has become the

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