Year-round consumption of Quebec fruit and vegetables is within our reach thanks to the accelerated development of greenhouse cultivation, which is beginning to diversify. And while prices may be higher than imports, consumers are on board.
• Also read: Winter Farm: $46 million granted to company to quadruple production
Myriam Fredette runs a small 500-square-foot strawberry greenhouse and sells her winter fruit daily for $14 for a 1.5-liter basket at her Montérégie booth.
“It’s definitely more expensive than imported strawberries, but the quality is better; we pick the fruit when it’s ripe,” says the woman, who is courted by grocery stores but whose entire production finds buyers at her kiosk.
The winter strawberry is one of the up-and-coming fruits in indoor cultivation in Quebec, supported by government aid of almost 100 million dollars by 2025. Goals: Doubling the greenhouse area and securing the food supply. From 120 hectares in 2020, the acreage increased to 180 hectares last year.
In order to produce 13 million kilos of strawberries in just a few years and replace 10% of imports from California and Mexico, Ferme d’Hiver has opted for vertical production, in facilities where climate, light and heat are 100% controlled. The company received $46 million in private and public funding in December to quadruple its production.
“We want to keep the prices as low as possible, so we have to increase the yield. The more we produce, the more competitive prices we will have,” explains Alain Brisebois, President and Chief Executive Officer.
price pressure
Winter Farm’s 850-milliliter basket of strawberries sells for a suggested retail price of $5.99, but nothing would stop a grocer from going beyond that. At Savoura, which has just doubled its strawberry production to 6 hectares, the 300-gram basket sells for $4.99 to $6.99. Producing at competitive prices in a market flooded with produce from California and Mexico is a constant challenge.
“There are two elements that we will never control: winter and higher labor costs than in Mexico, where a farm worker earns $5 a day,” said André Michaud, spokesman for Savoura and president of Agro Québec.
André Mousseau, President of the PSQ
“It costs more to produce in Quebec. On the other hand, the travel distances are shorter and we can offer fresher, higher quality products,” emphasizes André Mousseau, President of Les Producteurs en serre du Québec (PSQ).
With improvements in knowledge and technology, then government help and the return of preferential electricity tariffs, greenhouse producers are making gains in productivity. However, consumers would not benefit as much.
“Who pays sets the prices and we don’t have much to do with the grocery chains. The prices given to growers for their crops have dropped by 15-20% from 2021 to 2022, but that’s not all in the grocery business,” laments André Mousseau.
gain power
The association Les Producteurs en serre wants to encourage groups to facilitate marketing. Currently, Québec greenhouse fruits and vegetables are rarely featured in grocery chain advertisements, notes André Mousseau, as a single grower may not be able to meet demand. Therefore, it is important to emulate Ontario with producer groups.
“There are penalties for producers if they don’t deliver as much as they want, so the more volume we produce, the better we can meet demand and the more the chains will favor Quebec products,” believes André Mousseau.
Diversify the offer
Quebec growers’ market shares in the greenhouse vegetables and fruits niche were 30% in 2020. They rose to 50% last year, and the 80% target should be exceeded in 2025, which will make Quebec more self-sufficient in terms of food self-sufficiency. Tomatoes account for 46% of Quebec’s production.
“The greenhouse industry is young here. Savoura was born in the late 1980s, tomatoes are the place where we have the most knowledge and that’s why everyone makes them: it’s less risky,” notes André Michaud.
The arrival of peppers, eggplant, lettuce and other varieties will also promote greater autonomy for Quebec. Iceland has already grown bananas in greenhouses… so who knows what the future holds?
Greenhouse vegetables and fruits grown in Quebec
AREAS
Photo courtesy of Tondra
Photo courtesy of Mirabel Salat
- Others (strawberries, herbs, eggplants, etc.): 17 hectares
Photo courtesy of Ferme d’Hiver
MAIN REGIONS OF PRODUCTION
- Monte control: 24% of the areas
- Laurentians: 20%
- Centre-du-Quebec: 13%
NUMBER OF COMPANIES PRODUCING GREENHOUSE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN QUEBEC
- 2019: 499
- 2020: 547
- 2021: 625
FOUR LARGE COMPANIES PRODUCE 80% OF PRODUCTION
- tasted: Tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries
- hydro house: Lettuce, peppers, cucumbers
- Demers: Tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, eggplant, raspberries
- Royal Greenhouses: tomatoes
* Data from the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2021
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