Photos of the freekeh harvest, Syria's roasted green wheat grain

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Photos of the freekeh harvest, Syria's roasted green wheat grain

2026-05-27 03:28 Last Updated At：03:31

TAFTANAZ, Syria (AP) — Freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, is still produced each spring in northwestern Syria using traditional methods passed down through generations.

Made from immature wheat harvested early in the season, the grain is roasted over open flames to burn away the husks while preserving the kernels inside and giving freekeh its distinctive smoky flavor.

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A cook prepares a dish made with freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, at a restaurant in Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian laborers ride atop sacks of harvested green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A laborer pauses with his rake as Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A worker carries a gas cylinder used to fuel burners that roast green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Workers harvest green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian farmer gestures while harvesting green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Workers harvest green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

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A cook prepares a dish made with freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, at a restaurant in Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian laborers ride atop sacks of harvested green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A laborer pauses with his rake as Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A worker carries a gas cylinder used to fuel burners that roast green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Workers harvest green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian farmer gestures while harvesting green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Workers harvest green wheat used to produce freekeh, a roasted grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, in a field on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers burn green wheat to produce freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

In the outskirts of Taftanaz in Syria’s Idlib province, workers harvest, transport and roast the wheat before it is cleaned and prepared for markets. Despite years of conflict and economic hardship, freekeh production remains an enduring part of Syria’s rural food culture. The grain is commonly served with lamb or chicken and garnished with nuts and vegetables in homes and restaurants throughout Syria.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Congressional Black Caucus presses companies in the US to oppose Republican redistricting push

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday called on major corporations across the U.S., including those that previously expressed support for voting rights and racial justice, to oppose redistricting efforts by Republican-led states that seek to eliminate majority-Black U.S. House districts.

In a letter sent to more than 250 companies, members of the Black Caucus urge them to condemn the redistricting efforts, which the lawmakers describe as “coordinated efforts to silence Black voices at the ballot box.” Some of the companies had cosigned their own message to Congress five years ago urging lawmakers to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a Democratic proposal to restore and update the Voting Rights Act.

That 2021 coalition, Business for Voting Rights, was backed by many of the country’s most valuable and influential companies, including Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, Salesforce, Target, PayPal, Intel and Starbucks.

Tuesday's letter is the latest effort by the Congressional Black Caucus and its allies to gather support for preventing more Republican-led states from redrawing their legislative maps in ways that would dilute Black political representation. Several states have moved to eliminate congressional districts represented by Black Democratic lawmakers after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that severely weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

“Corporations that have profited from Black consumers, relied on Black workers, and amassed wealth in part from Black communities cannot look away while Black political power is dismantled in plain sight,” Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Black Caucus, said in an interview.

Clarke described the letter as “putting corporate America on notice,” but she said the caucus was not seeking an adversarial relationship with corporations. Among those receiving Tuesday's letter were companies based overseas that have a significant presence in the U.S.

The caucus last week called for Black athletes to boycott public universities in states that are gerrymandering their congressional maps to eliminate districts held by Black lawmakers. The 59-member Congressional Black Caucus consists entirely of Democrats, including more than a third from Southern states.

Some lawmakers have said mass protests and federal legislation might be necessary to undo the efforts underway in Republican-led states. Any new federal voting rights law would almost certainly require Democrats to secure majorities in both chambers of Congress and win the presidency.

It is unclear how companies will respond to the demands. The Associated Press reached out for comment to dozens of companies that were sent a letter by the caucus, but did not receive a response from most firms. Microsoft declined to comment.

“Many companies that previously issued statements after the murder of George Floyd, pledged billions toward racial equity initiatives, and spoke forcefully in defense of democracy following January 6 now face a defining test of whether those commitments were rooted in principle or convenience,” the caucus' letter states.

It also represents the latest instance of the caucus expressing frustrations with corporate America. A 2024 Black Caucus report noted that lawmakers were “troubled that some corporations that made pledges in 2020 have taken several steps in the opposite direction,” such as rolling back or failing to follow through on pledges to diversify their workforces.

“We understand who the occupant in the White House is and the reality of Republicans being in charge,” Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada said of the caucus’ message. “But what corporate America also understands is that there will be a shift at some point.”

The letter calls on companies to publicly condemn the redistricting plans, meet with Black Caucus members to discuss corporate America's role in protecting voting rights and disclose their political donations to Republican politicians in states that are redistricting their congressional maps.

President Donald Trump last year kicked off the unusual mid-decade round of congressional redistricting when he pushed Texas lawmakers to redraw their maps in a way that would add Republican seats. Democratic-led California responded, but it has been mostly Republican states redrawing their lines since as the party tries to maintain its majority in the U.S. House during this year's midterm elections.

The effort was supercharged by the Supreme Court decision, which allowed even more Republican states to redraw congressional maps that previously had protected minority communities.

Horsford, who chaired the Black Caucus during President Joe Biden's Democratic administration, said the caucus is demanding that companies “stand on the side of democracy, fairness and equal representation.”

“This is about power, who holds it and what it’s used for,” he said. “And when you’re diluting Black economic and political power, we need to know where these companies stand in this moment, and what side of history they’re on.”

Photos of the freekeh harvest, Syria's roasted green wheat grain

News

Photos of the freekeh harvest, Syria's roasted green wheat grain

A cook prepares a dish made with freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, at a restaurant in Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A cook prepares a dish made with freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine and made by harvesting immature wheat and roasting it over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, at a restaurant in Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian workers load sacks of freekeh, a roasted green wheat grain widely used in Levantine cuisine, after burning and roasting immature wheat over open flames to separate and preserve the grains, on the outskirts of Taftanaz, northwestern Syria, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

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