FRUITS AND CROPS
From production to harvest, right to your hands.
STATISTICS
The sum of our efforts
+ 8
Millions of pounds of berries sold each year
+ 150
Hectares of strawberry production
+ 21
Hectares under tunnel cultivation
STRAWBERRIES
Cultivated from June to October, in fields and tunnels, several dozen varieties of strawberries grow in succession all the way through to autumn. Their flavor, texture and color vary throughout the season. Some are incredibly sweet and melt in your mouth, while others are milder and firm to the bite; each strawberry variety has its own unique characteristics.
Meticulously picked when ripe, they are quickly cooled to preserve their freshness until they reach you.
Our strawberries are available in many grocery and big-box stores in Quebec, Ontario and as far away as Western Canada.
In winter, from December to April, they also grow in smaller quantities in our greenhouse at Marché Fermier Pitre, thanks to innovative and sustainable methods. You can find them directly at the market and, depending on production, at select points of sale in the Hautes-Laurentides region.
Raspberries
Raspberries are also among the berries we grow. Flavorful and rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, they’re an essential small fruit in Québec to include in your diet.
Grown exclusively in tunnels, our raspberry plants thrive sheltered from bad weather, protected from climate challenges and many pests.
You can find our raspberries at several Metro and Costco locations in Quebec.
Blackberries
Tunnel growing also allows us to offer high-quality blackberries, harvested at peak ripeness. Juicy, tasty, and naturally nutritious, they add a gourmet touch to your meals.
A pleasure to enjoy in summer, right through the first weeks of autumn.
VEGETABLES
In addition to berries, we also offer garlic and corn. Grown in the field, we take pride in providing high-quality vegetables produced in Québec.
Many of our vegetables are available during the summer season at grocery stores and large retailers across Quebec.
PROCESS
How do our berries get to you?
Production
It all starts with production. At the beginning of the season, we begin preparing the plants, including planting, weeding and caring for the crops, before moving on to the harvesting phase.
Packaging
The berries are picked and gradually placed in their final containers directly at the production site, whether in the field or under tunnel. In this way, our pickers guarantee the required quantity and quality while meticulously adhering to the health and safety standards of our products.
Cooling and storage
After being harvested and packaged, the berries are transported to the cooling center, where they are quickly cooled to a specific temperature. This process is essential for optimal preservation. They are then stored in our warehouses until dispatch.
Distribution
Once our sales team receives an order, each delivery is scheduled and transported by refrigerated truck from our distribution center to our customers' warehouses. As we work with sensitive and perishable foods, it is crucial for us to ship our products within 24 hours of harvest.
Quality control
All products are quality checked by retailers upon receipt before they reach the grocery store shelves.
FIND OUR PRODUCTS
Enjoy our freshly harvested fruits and vegetables
From June to October, you can find our delicious fruits and vegetables at Costco, Metro, Super C, Provigo, Maxi, IGA and Loblaws. Depending on the season and harvest time, our products are available in the fruits and vegetables section of many grocery stores in Quebec and even across Canada.
In winter, treat yourself to our greenhouse strawberries, carefully grown at Marché Fermier Pitre. They’re available from December to April directly at the market and, depending on the harvest, in select grocery stores in the Hautes-Laurentides.
«It's a high-quality product that retains its flavor for a long time, can be kept for a long time, and respects all the needs of our customers.»
Certification
Certified products and crops
To guarantee that we provide you with high-quality products in strict compliance with health and safety standards, we undergo CanadaGAP certification annually. This process involves a thorough evaluation of various aspects of our operations, including our facilities, sanitary practices, harvesting, transportation and storage procedures, as well as the proper use of phytosanitary products and fertilizers.
Continuously adopting sustainable agricultural practices, our way of innovating.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why did you choose strawberries as your main crop?
Strawberry cultivation is where it all began , and it remains our primary crop today.
We chose to grow strawberries largely due to the experience gained by the Pitre brothers, who spent much of their childhood working in strawberry fields. This passion for strawberry farming grew year after year, eventually evolving into a large-scale family farming project when we acquired market garden land in the Upper Laurentians, well-suited for this crop, in 2016.
Do you grow berries in the winter?
Yes, from December to April, we grow strawberries in smaller quantities in our greenhouse located directly at Marché Fermier Pitre, using innovative and responsible methods.
Our large-scale production, however, takes place during the summer season. The installation of several dozen hectares of tunnels allows us to extend the production season by a few weeks and thus offer berries almost year-round.
What's the best way to store berries?
Keeping your berries refrigerated is the best way to keep them fresh longer! Just take them out to room temperature a little before eating to fully appreciate their flavors and wash them just before consumption.
You can also freeze them for later use in recipes or for making smoothies. Simply rinse them under water, pat them dry, remove the stems, and place them on baking trays lined with parchment paper. Then, freeze them for a few hours before transferring them to freezer bags or appropriate containers.