Our Story
Founded in 2002, Beni Ghreb is a grower, processor and exporter of Organic Deglet Nour dates based in Hazoua, in the South of Tunisia.
With over 30 years’ experience in organic and biodynamic farming, we purchase our dates from a cooperative of +100 certified smallholder farmers with which we work closely throughout the cultivation process to guarantee the high quality of our product and to provide farmers with a fair income.
Our dates are carefully selected and packaged at our processing plant located at a short distance from the oasis where dates are grown.
We focus on export activity to the EU and we strive to build long term and solid relationships with our clients.
Our Mission
To work closely with farmers and buyers establishing a direct linkage between producers and consumers, to maximize value in cultivation and processing and limit intermediation services, to export high quality products and provide efficient and timely services to clients.
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Our vision is to be an exporter with an integrated and holistic approach closing gaps between farmers and end consumers.
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Our Approach
A holistic approach to farming and processing of organic dates
At Beni Ghreb, we take a holistic approach to farming and processing of dates to ensure the quality of our product. Our dates are cultivated in the Hazoua oasis where we work closely with a cooperative of +100 farmers. We follow the cultivation process throughout the year with particular attention and direct intervention during all critical stages before the harvest, including chiselling and pollination, insect protection with nets, harvest and sorting as well as transport to our processing facility.
The farmers’ group was founded with the aim of solving agro-technical difficulties faced by smallholder farmers and of finding solutions to sell their products at a fair price. The projects we have worked on in collaboration with specialized agronomists include composting for water retention, usage of nets for insect protection, introduction of bubbler irrigation systems for water efficiency and usage of drainage water for fodder and compost production.
We provide support to our farmers through training in organic and biodynamic agriculture practices and the provision of inputs such as insect nets.
The results of the concerted cultivation effort can be observed through increased yields, enhanced quality of dates, lower insect infestation, increased and improved market access for farmers.
Our Organic Deglet Nour Dates
A full range of organic Deglet Nour dates and processed dates products
Our Organic Deglet Nour Dates
We are pleased to provide our customers with a full range of dates and processed dates products, such as paste and sirop.
We take pride in offering a natural product cultivated with care and passion with respect for the environment and with attention to the use of precious natural resources, such as water. We customize our product based on our customers’ requirements and always strive to build relationships based on trust and long term partnership.
Our Certifications
Demeter, EU Organic, Bio Suisse and Fairtrade certifications
Thanks to our long-standing experience in biodynamic agriculture, we are proud to have been the first Demeter-Certified Organic Deglet Nour Dates project in 1990s. Today, we hold EU Organic, Bio Suisse and Fairtrade certifications as well as Demeter.
Demeter
Demeter is the strictest standard for organic agriculture worldwide. Beyond EU organic regulations, the holistic Demeter requirements also include proactive measures to strengthen life processes in soil and in food.
An annual strict verification process ensures compliance with the International Demeter Biodynamic Standard.
EU Organic
The EU Organic certification allows organic products to be commercialised within the European Union and guarantees climate and environment protection, conservation of soil fertility, preservation of biodiversity,Â
absence of use of chemical and synthetic products, absence of GMO and transparent labelling for consumers.
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Bio Suisse
Bio Suisse is the Swiss umbrella organization that provide common and uniform standards for agriculture and processing. More than 1'050 processing and trade companies have a licence contract with Bio Suisse to use the label.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade certification is a product certification system where social, economic and environmental aspects of production are certified against Fairtrade Standards for Producers and Traders. The Fairtrade system monitors the buying and the selling of the product until it is consumer packaged and labelled.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Our Commitment To Sustainability
Our efforts towards environment conservation and protection are a statement of our commitment to sustainability.
In terms of natural resources, climate change, water shortage and salinization are major threats to date cultivation. At Beni Ghreb, we have made important efforts to improve water usage, especially during the critical season from July to October. With the support of UNDP and GIZ, we worked on a new irrigation system using pipes and bubblers installed throughout the date gardens which irrigates based on the needs of the palm trees and the soil and allows for substantial water saving.
In addition, we started a soil conservation system to prevent erosion and desertification. Different measures have been introduced in the parcels such as the use of a permanent green cover under the trees, use of compost instead of manure, cleaning of drainage system to avoid standing water around the roots, and reduction of heavy ploughing and soil movement.
Finally, we support a soil conservation program that aims at using drainage water to develop a wooded area around the oasis. Drainage water is high in salt content and toxic for most plants and specific salt resistant varieties (halophytes) need to be chosen for planting in a specific area. These plants need a long time to establish themselves in extreme conditions but, once they are developed, farmers can use the trees and shrubs as fodder or additional composting material. With the support of UNDP, GIF and GIZ, we created a protected 140 ha area near the oasis with a 40 ha halophyte plantation, mainly acacias and other endangered desert plants.