Organic food a growing trend in Morocco

Following the Californian trend, Moroccans are now all over the organic and gluten-free food. The agricultural practice was established in 1986, producing organic products with fewer artificial food additives. Recently, the healthy habit has invaded the local market allowing Moroccans to buy organic vegetables and fruits, gluten-free pastry and 100% natural products through the emergence of several specialized shops and supermarkets.

Casablanca, as one of the largest cities in the Kingdom, witnessed the opening of several organic food shops, and chain stores namely La Vie Claire, a French franchise, that provides 100% organic beverages, flour and bread along with beauty products. The store, as indicated on its official website, was first opened in 2011 in Casablanca providing 4,000 products that are mostly imported from the France-based La Vie Claire. The shelves of the organic franchise are packed with all kinds of natural and diet-style nutrition quinoa, pasta, rice and almond milk, gluten and lactose-free goodies.

The corner reposted my food insta do I put my contact information in my bio now pic.twitter.com/Dw4VLd2Zo4

— kerianne v (@tbhkerianne) 8 avril 2017

The same goes for several other organic shops in the city, Moroccan Legacy is another example, a very unique grocery store located in Bourgogne, Casablanca. Speaking to Imane Sidqui, manager of Moroccan Legacy, she introduced us to the multiple and diversified set of products offered by the shop.

Diet style food

There exist a range of other places where one can shop according to their specific dietary requirements. The organic market has broadened its territory including also diet style food for those who are following strict diets due to health issues or weight management problems.

Pain Quotidien is a bakery that targets the gluten-free lovers in Morocco. Based in Marrakech on one of its busiest boulevards, the shop makes gluten-free French pastry, brownies, cookies, cakes, pancakes and pizzas. A diversified menu that Amina Elgaidi, manager at Pain Quotidien spoke to Yabiladi about : «We have a small isolated laboratory, where a specialized team produces the gluten-free dough». The Marrakchi bakery alongside production, distributes its gluten-free flour and dough to people all over the country with a price of «47 dirhams a kilo», as Amina Elgaidi indicated.

Use these 7 tips for baking the perfect gluten-free cookie this Valentine's Day! https://t.co/8xiwWIEeHt #gfliving #glutenfreeliving pic.twitter.com/VAnuKlwYv4

— Gluten-Free Living (@gfliving) 10 février 2017

Healthy is wealthy

The healthy is wealthy habit has been welcomed by Moroccans lately and it was translated through the opening of several places that offer healthy choices for foodies. Casablanca witnessed the launch of Carrefour Gourmet, a French supermarket that was opened for the first time in Morocco in March 2017. As reported by the Huffingtonpost Maroc, the franchise is dedicated to organic, natural and fresh alimentation. Carrefour is not the only brand that is emerging in the organic market, as Marjane the Moroccan hypermarket chain is now conducting an advertisement campaign for its new BIO products that are 100% organic.

Whether it is accessible or not, organic food remains a healthy choice for people. Mohammed Ouhssine, a practitioner dietitian told Yabiladi that :

It is always preferable to eat organic nutrition, however for Ouhssine these kinds of products, vegetables and fruits are not always affordable and sometimes unavailable. Most of all, Dr. Ouhssine emphasizes balance in eating and shopping, be it organic or non-organic food : «one should consume fruits and vegetables on a daily basis». 

Bulgogi for me......and we might have ordered Chicken Hot Pot and Bibimbap to go!! Yum!! The fermented vegetables are potato and eggplant pic.twitter.com/FpTY02WhEu

— Mrs. K (@APBio4AllHSKids) 14 avril 2017