Making Quebec's organic food accessible to as many people as possible is the goal set by the members of the Cooperative for Ecological Local Agriculture (CAPÉ), the instigators of the Biolocaux grocery store project launched last week in Montreal.
The launch of the grocery store was marked by an atmosphere of curiosity and anticipation, with the participation of more than 200 citizens who came to celebrate this significant milestone for ultra-local agriculture.
During the 5-to-7 event, visitors were able to discover the grocery store's new facilities and chat with the project's initiators and a few producers who generously traveled for the occasion. The focus is on the grocery store's innovative business model, which will feature exclusively organic, local, and seasonal products directly supplied by family farms. The goal is to guarantee fair compensation for producers and fair prices for consumers by eliminating middlemen, while encouraging Quebecers to eat what the region has to offer.
Léon Bibeau-Mercier, president of the Cooperative for Ecological Local Agriculture, explained the underlying philosophy: "By promoting direct transactions between farmers and citizens, it is possible to provide accessible, fresh, healthy, and seasonal food, while fairly compensating those who produce it. This added value can be reinvested in sustainable agricultural practices, labor compensation, and the fight against climate change."
An initiative to be replicated
CAPÉ plans to multiply this grocery store model across Quebec to support local ecological agriculture, in accordance with the Resilience Manifesto , launched the previous year by the Family Farmers Network.
Émilie Viau-Drouin , Executive Director of CAPÉ, was very enthusiastic about the future of this project: “Without an intermediary, farmers and citizens will have the opportunity to shape the future of agriculture and food. This is a future necessary to ensure our collective resilience. We are eager to see what the future holds, as are the hundreds of citizens who have supported us since the beginning of this project.”
Émilie Viau-Drouin also believes that this grocery model will offer greater flexibility to consumers who want to eat organic and local, but for whom the organic basket or market kiosk models are less suitable.
Last summer, the farmers behind this initiative tested community interest with a farmers' market located at the building's entrance. The positive feedback confirmed the project's relevance.
Maxime Dion, co-owner of Ferme la Bourrasque, shared his enthusiasm: "We really felt the community's support. Every week, regulars came to express their satisfaction at seeing us in their neighborhood. Many of them even offered to help. It's a warm welcome that warms our hearts."
A project for the community
The opening of this grocery store is just the beginning of a series of upcoming events. True to its mission, CAPÉ aims to make this space a meeting place for residents and producers. Throughout the year, the community will have the opportunity to get to know farmers better through numerous activities, such as workshops and conferences.
In addition to the events, the grocery store team will play an educational role by raising awareness about agricultural issues, vegetable seasonality, and the realities of farmers. Staff have been trained on these topics, and educational materials will be gradually integrated into the store over the coming weeks. This is an exciting initiative that promises to bring people closer to the source of their food while strengthening local communities and economies.
Organic Local Grocery Store
2884 Masson Street, Montreal
H1Y 1W9
