BTM February 2012 137 A Fresh Start Al Ghalia’s farming division is dedicated to growing high quality produce to serve at its restaurants and aims to build on its success and goals in the coming year. AL GHALIA FARMS Al Ghalia’s portfolio is generally considered by the public to be predominantly full of high-end restaurants and cafés throughout the Kingdom — Café Lilou, Mezzaluna, Monsoon and Zoë. The company also owns farmland in Bahrain — the reason why the food you eat at these restaurants tastes so delicious and fresh. Insisting on upholding the company slogan ‘Locally grown, naturally grown’, Al Ghalia Farms produce only quality homegrown ingredients and the hydroponic vegetables grown can be purchased in supermarkets around the Kingdom. Being an environmentally-friendly company is of high importance. The farms adhere to a ‘greener’ method of farming that saves an incredible amount of water, is pesticide-free and can produce a fully grown crop within just 28 days whilst maintaining nearly zero waste. All of the Al Ghalia Farms’ plants are grown in water instead of soil so that the nutrients needed are circulated directly to the roots. This enables plants to spend less energy on creating root systems and more energy on developing fruits, flowers and leaves. The company’s farming initiative derived from a need for good quality local produce for its restaurants. This quality was considered to be lacking in other local farms despite a desire from Al Ghalia to support the local community’s businesses and buy purely local produce. A large and constant supply of food is required to stock all of Al Ghalia’s food and beverage outlets, an order that local farms were not able to fulfill; ergo, Al Ghalia Farms was born. Aspiring to grow and develop In 2012, Al Ghalia aims to proudly accomplish greater achievements through progressing with a higher approach of excellence and standard quality. Al Ghalia Farms recently received two endorsements so that it might build upon its current position to reach new levels of trade. The first of these endorsements was from Global GAP, an international sector that sets standards for certification of agricultural products across the globe. With the support of these credentials, Al Ghalia Farms is currently accredited to export and deal in international trade. Secondly, the company received the LEAF qualification cementing its devotion and determination to prioritising a higher level of integrated farm management. These endorsements have prompted the company to set a goal to precede any other establishment throughout the Kingdom. Recently, Al Ghalia Farms also participated in the Kingdom’s most forefront agricultural event of the year, the Bahrain International Garden Show. At the show, the company was awarded the reputable honour of ‘best stand’ in the exhibition. E Call 17 710-271.
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