LuLu Hypermarket’s “Saudi Mango Festival” has turned the spotlight on the different varieties of the sweet fruit grown in Saudi Arabia. Twenty-four local varieties of Saudi mango are on display in the aisles of all Lulu outlets across Saudi Arabia for the duration of the festival, running from May 1-7.
The festival was inaugurated simultaneously in three cities — in LuLu Atyaf Mall, Riyadh by Muhammad Al-Abdullatif, assistant undersecretary for agricultural facilities and supportive services, and M. Suleiman bin Saleh Al-Jutaili, director general of the General Administration of Marketing and Agricultural Associations; in LuLu Al-Ruwais, Jeddah, by Majid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, director general of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Makkah region branch, and his deputy Walid Al-Daghis; and in Dammam’s LuLu Hypermarket, Ash Shatea Ash Sharqi District, where the festival was organized in cooperation with the Alrowia Cooperative Society for Agricultural Marketing, and inaugurated by Fahd bin Ahmed Al-Hamzi, general manager of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, Eastern Province branch.
The festival is part of a long-term program to promote Saudi agricultural products and support Saudi farmers. It presents shoppers with an opportunity to bite into the juicy goodness of popular Saudi mango varieties such as Sudani, Baladi (Kabeer, Koora and Zibta varieties), Zill, Thoomi, Keeth, Selastion, Shila, Zibta Ahler and others. Also on offer are varieties from other countries that were painstakingly grafted and cultivated in Saudi soil, such as the Langra, Thai and Indian varieties, some South American and African mangoes, and more.
The Saudi Mango Festival 2024 presents the juicy harvest in many celebrated forms, ripe and raw, cooked and lightly salted or dusted with complementary spices, in addition to desserts, curries, pickles and smoothies. There are also promotions galore and treats in the Lulu Hot Food and Cold Food section, including items such as mango fish curry, mango chicken curry, stuffed chicken breasts, traditional delicacies like aamras (mango puree) and puri bread, and healthy drinks.
“I am very pleased to inaugurate the mango festival this year. The Saudi mango has seen a bumper harvest this year and LuLu has highlighted this delicious fact,” said Al-Abdullatif. “We will keep innovating in our Saudi agricultural arena and hope to have many varieties of popular fruit and vegetables for the health-alert and taste-conscious Saudi shopper through LuLu.”
“Lulu Hypermarket is once again pleased to bring the goodness and deliciousness of mango to fans in Saudi Arabia and especially promote the 24 Saudi varieties,” said LuLu Saudi Director Shehim Mohammed. “Full of vitamins, fiber and taste, this is a great summer fruit and this promotion is a great way to applaud the efforts and success of Saudi farmers. We wish all our shoppers happy mango tasting!”
Also present at the Riyadh inauguration were Dr. Ibrahim Al-Turki; Nayef Al-Masoudi, director of agricultural projects at the Council of Associations; and Khaled Hanifat, Jordanian minister of agriculture.
The accompanying delegation in Jeddah consisted of Assistant Director General for Technical Affairs Dr. Abdul-Mane bin Issa Al-Khaibari, Director of the Agriculture Department at the Ministry’s branch in Makkah Muhammad bin Ali Al-Shehri, Director of the Office of the Minister of Environment in Jeddah Governorate Ahmed bin Al-Harithi, and his deputy Reem bint Ahmed Bahamdeen.