USAID helps export “frik” to external markets

L’Orient Le Jour daily published a feature last week on the traditional wheat “frik” which is popular in many parts of the country, mainly in the South. Due to its high nutritive value, efforts are underway to open new foreign outlets for the product. The newspaper referred to one new program (LIVCD) aiming at the development of productive sectors in Lebanon, funded by USAID, which allocated USD 41.7 million for the five-year project that will mainly target agricultural enterprises. Referring to a recent study, the newspaper mentioned that there is a high demand for this product both domestically and in Arab countries, adding that “frik” is capable compete with quinoa and other healthy products in Europe and the United States. However, the study criticized the traditional method of preparing that does not comply with hygiene specifications and therefore can limit its marketing potential. Normally, this green wheat is grilled and the exposed to sun before being crushed and grinded by the traditional methods. L’Orient Le Jour reported that the shortcomings of the aforementioned process were resolved through efforts of Lebanese engineers who succeeded in designing a new production technique using modern machinery that complies with health standards. This newly introduced technique can also be used in the preparation of another popular Lebanese staple food, the “burgul”. OLJ referred to women beneficiaries who piloted the usage of the new technique, among whom were women workers of Haris cooperative in the South, and who now intend to grow wheat on large scale. (L’Orient Le Jour, 10 June 2015)