An ode to our resilient partner farmers after a challenging year.

Every summer, without fail, we find ourselves in awe of our 90+ dedicated partner farmers. To be completely honest, this summer has been one of the toughest field seasons in recent memory. With unexpected frost in May, followed by hail, smog, a tornado, and excessive rain…our farmers have been put through the wringer. But through it all, their resilience and optimism (not to mention a surprisingly warm fall) have led them to a solid end of season, as always. Here's a closer look at the highlights from some of our longstanding partnerships.

Ô Saine Terre - L'Assomption, Quebec

Benoît from Ô Saine Terre has been committed to organic farming from day one. After nine years of partnership, it’s clear he never shies from a challenge - growing an impressive 50 varieties of veg out on his land in Lanaudière.

Spring frost and a tornado sweeping through his fields kicked off the season with a series of setbacks. Unfortunately, the frost stunted the growth of many of his plants and took a toll on his grapes. Later on, the tornado and fierce winds also wreaked havoc on his fields, tearing up plants and leaving a mess of branches.

Despite the wreckage and adversity, Benoît managed to deliver the freshest eggplants, beans, and squash we could have hoped for. It was a combination of luck but more importantly his extensive agricultural expertise that allowed him to extend the season into fall.

Les Jardins d'Ambroise - Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec

Julie and Sébastien place sustainability at the core of everything they do. We've worked with them since the early days of the Marketplace, and they consistently meet our expectations for quality, freshness, and variety.

This year, they met their fair share of challenges, mostly due to heavy rainfall. Despite their exceptional irrigation systems, the excess water proved to be a hurdle for some of our fave crops (like melons and zucchini) that struggled to thrive through the gloomy skies.

But September brought the ideal mix of warmth and sunshine, making Julie's squash shine with vibrant colours and top-notch quality. Plus the steady autumn conditions worked wonders for her Brussels sprouts, rhubarb, shallots, and watermelon radishes.

Bio-Saveur, Mascouche & Laval, Quebec

Karl is the mastermind behind Bio-Saveur, tending to his vast fields of 20 crops on the North Shore. Our shared passion for fresh, organic produce has been the driving force in our partnership - we've yet to come across someone as open and eager to try new things.

Like everyone else, Karl faced excessively wet conditions. It took a toll on the quality of his Italian tomatoes, corn, and beans - all affected by the high humidity levels.

But he didn't get discouraged, and looked for solutions instead of backing down. He was proactive by covering his sweet potatoes with compostable tarps to regulate water flow. He also found success with ground cherries, onions, garlic, shallots, Brussels sprouts, and an array of other crops, consistently supporting us throughout the entire field season.

Every summer, without fail, we're inspired by the dedication of our farmers who go the extra mile to provide Lufavores with the freshest vegetables, no matter the obstacles. With years of experience in sustainable agriculture and organic farming, our partners are seasoned experts who can tackle any curveball thrown their way.