Growing together with our partners.
There’s truly nothing more exciting than our first field visits of the year. After a long winter and a rainy spring, our team members put on their sunscreen and set out to Bio-Saveur and Ferme Jean-Pierre Plante to meet with two of our longest-standing field partners. The season started with some unexpected frost and erratic weather, but these farmers have always remained optimistic and motivated in the face of challenges.
And keep scrolling to read more and watch what Bio-Saveur and Jean-Pierre Plante have to say about our shared journey.
Bio-Saveur, Mascouche & Laval, Quebec
With farms in Laval and Mascouche, Bio-Saveur owner Karl (pictured above) grows about 20 different crops in a single season. It all started back on a cold and rainy day when Fred, our Purchasing Director, found himself heading out to meet Karl. Little did he know that a quick meeting would turn into a three-hour adventure exploring every nook and cranny of Karl's farm, leaving a deep impression. Fred said he’s never known anyone as open and as willing to take risks as Karl, a completely self-taught farmer.
Whether it’s his readiness to take risks, or his passion for organic, fresh vegetables, the values we share are endless. As he keeps up with Lufavores demands, we’ve helped him grow his business by allowing him to focus on what he does and loves best. We handle the marketing and merchandizing, giving him more time to experiment in his fields.
Karl has played a huge role in our growth and has easily become our most versatile partner. Always ready to tackle whatever we need to fill gaps in our Marketplace (hello asparagus and strawberries!), there’s no farmer as devoted to Lufavores’ requests.
Despite this season’s rocky start with the unstable weather, he's optimistic for what’s to come. We continue to learn so much from Karl’s optimism and creativity, and together we help each other grow. From young garlic to zucchini, squash, watermelon, and more, he has you covered from early summer to late fall.
Ferme Jean-Pierre Plante, Île d’Orléans, Quebec
Taking over his ancestors' farm in 2000, Jean-Julien and his wife Judith became experts in growing these iconic field berries out in Île d’Orléans. But it wasn’t until their kids came around that they became hyper-aware of the benefits of organic farming and made the switch in the name of pesticide-free fields.
Lufavores' demand for organic berries is growing every year. That’s why Ferme Jean-Pierre Plante is increasing its production by buying or renting more plots (like this one pictured above) on the south side of Saint-Laurent-de-l'île-d'Orléans.
Our partnership with this highly experienced crew has evolved to be a true win-win. We’re extremely excited to send Lufavores an abundance of first-rate organic strawberries (and raspberries too!), and they’re thrilled to have found an engaged community for their new production, allowing them to plan, strategize, and organize their season.
Our mission to create a better food system relies on the dedicated efforts of like-minded individuals, like our long-time field farmers striving to grow food sustainably. During tough economic times, we're working together to support each other - because we firmly believe this is the future of agriculture. These folks, along with our other partners, go above and beyond throughout the entire field season to bring Lufavores the freshest fruit and veg you can imagine.
Watch this video where we hear directly from the Bio-Saveur and Jean-Pierre Plante crews to gain valuable insight into our shared journey.
