Ankawa Grape Exhibition Celebrates Local Harvest
Ankawa's annual three-day grape exhibition is underway, showcasing local grape varieties, by-products, and traditional Kurdish culture. The event brings together farmers and the public to celebrate the region's rich agricultural heritage.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The town of Ankawa has once again become a vibrant center for celebrating local agriculture with the opening of its annual grape exhibition, a three-day event that brings together a significant number of farmers and citizens to showcase the region's rich harvest and cultural traditions.
The exhibition, which has become a staple annual event for the community, features a wide array of local grape varieties, drawing the attention and admiration of visitors.
Beyond the fresh fruit, the festival also highlights the versatility of the crop by displaying numerous grape by-products, including raisins, vinegar, and grape molasses.
The event serves as a crucial platform for farmers to connect with the public and introduce the diverse agricultural products of the Kurdistan Region.
In addition to the agricultural showcase, the exhibition is enriched with several other cultural activities that add a unique dimension to the festivities.
Attendees have the opportunity to experience traditional bread-making and view displays of traditional Kurdish foods, further grounding the event in the region's deep cultural heritage.
One of the participants, Suzan Toma Boui, noted the event's consistency and her specific role in the cultural demonstration. She pointed out that this is the third consecutive year for the festival, which is held annually at this time.
"I participated last year, and this year they asked me to participate, especially in making 'astuki tandoor' [a type of tandoor bread], which is rare in the market," she said.
An organizer of the exhibition, Priest Yousef Toma, provided insight into the event's purpose and origins in a comment to Kurdistan24.
"This exhibition is held here once a year by the Sulwan Brothers," he stated. "It encourages farmers to appreciate the value of these resources, especially grapes."
Priest Toma also highlighted the many benefits of the fruit, noting that grapes are enjoyed as a food, as a fruit, and as raisins, while also having a beautiful appearance.
This annual gathering has solidified its place as an important cultural and economic occasion in Ankawa, successfully bringing together producers and consumers and highlighting grapes as one of the principal agricultural products of Kurdistan.
