Eating Local Products All Year Round
Eating locally is possible all year round. Here’s an overview of the local products offered in the various departments, from the butcher shop to the bakery, including fruits and vegetables and exclusive brands.
BUTCHER
Quebec Pork
The Le Porc du Québec logo guarantees local pork that meets specific standards. The line offers a variety of cuts, from fillets to ribs, and all from farms that are members of the Éleveurs de porcs du Québec organization. Easily identifiable, the logo reflects the commitment to quality, animal welfare and the reduction of their carbon footprint. Buying Quebec pork helps support the local economy while taking advantage of a versatile and traceable source of protein.
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FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Products Stored Under Controlled Conditions: Potatoes and Apples
Local products such as potatoes and apples can now be consumed all year round, thanks to storage techniques in refrigerated warehouses. For potatoes, the choice of early and storage varieties allows them to be present on shelves well beyond the harvest, from late summer to autumn.
As for apples, some varieties can be stored for six months to a year in cold rooms with a controlled atmosphere, where the temperature, humidity level and oxygen level are controlled to slow down their ripening, thus preserving their freshness, texture and nutritional qualities.
Greenhouse Products: Lebanese Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Greenhouses now make it possible to offer local Lebanese tomatoes and cucumbers all year round, even outside their natural season, ensuring a fresh and local production despite the harshness of winter. Tomatoes were the pioneer of greenhouse cultivation in Quebec, quickly followed by cucumbers, which are now the second most important crop in the province.
Although grown in the same environment, these two vegetables have different needs. Cucumbers require constant nighttime heat and grow faster. Tomato plants, which are more robust, are more tolerant of temperature variations, but need additional nutrients to develop tasty, quality fruit.
Vertical Farming Products: Sprouts, Lettuces and Strawberries
Vertical farming, which consists of growing plants in overlapping layers, makes it possible to produce ultra-fresh food in a controlled environment while optimizing resources. Microgreens and lettuces dominate this sector thanks to their fast growth cycle and low water consumption. These crops benefit from custom LED lighting that enhances their flavour and colour, while ensuring immediate local availability, even in urban settings.
Strawberries represent the major innovation of recent years: thanks to assisted pollination, and precise management of water, nutrients and light, they grow even in winter and remain tasty all year round. This method of cultivation reduces seasonality and long transports, guaranteeing fresh and tasty fruit out of season.
BAKERY
BAKERY
À Chacun Son Pain
This artisanal bakery in Baie-Saint-Paul celebrates the terroir by making tasty breads from organic flours, made from local grains and ground on ancestral stone millstones. Committed to an eco-responsible approach, its bakers make a selection of organic artisanal breads every day, now available in all IGAs in Quebec.
FISHMONGER
FISHMONGER
Fumoirs Gosselin
Located in Frelighsburg, in the Eastern Townships, Fumoirs Gosselin offers superior quality products, known for their texture and authentic smoky taste. Among their specialties, the hot-smoked salmon with maple wood reflects the artisanal mastery of the smoker: each fillet is the result of meticulous know-how, offering a unique flavour while guaranteeing quality, traceability and respect for the environment thanks to the use of sustainably farmed salmon.
GROCERY STORE
GROCERY STORE
RICARDO, Cassandra Loignon and Withenshaw by Anne-Marie
These three Quebec brands exclusive to IGA reflect local know-how and highlight the richness of Quebec products, offering consumers authentic and superior quality products. Each one brings its own unique touch:
RICARDO offers a range of ready meals, sauces and desserts to share inspired by family recipes, and focused on simplicity and quality; Cassandra Loignon stands out for her versatile products, suitable for entertaining as well as for everyday meals, including sauces, dressings and desserts; and Withenshaw by Anne-Marie offers British-inspired frozen pastries, developed as a tribute to family culinary traditions.