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Jean-Marc, Réjean and Louis Bélisle were still teenagers when they
lost both their parents. Determined to continue in the family
tradition, the three brothers managed to complete their studies
while maintaining their father’s berry-farming activities.
Today, the Bélisle brothers cultivate 200 acres of strawberries,
two estates of raspberries and employ 250 to 300 workers at peak
production.
For Louis Bélisle, Quebec strawberries are “the best strawberries
in the world”. Very proud of the innovations that today allow him
to harvest tasty berries from spring to fall, he hopes that his
children will follow in his footsteps and dabble in
strawberries!
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Clermont Riendeau is passionate about work well done. “Integrity
towards our clients and Quebec consumers who will be eating our
products, that’s an important value”.
Ever since he was a very young boy, he’s known every inch of his
fields. He grew up on the farm that belonged to his grand-father up
until 1959 when his own father bought it. At the time, the farm
consisted of a small dairy operation and potato farming, but today,
the 800 acres are dedicated to growing market produce.
Clermont Riendeau is proud to see his own children, all in their
twenties, appreciate the feel of the earth between their fingers
and work with such enthusiasm. We’ve succeeded in creating
something good, now all we have to do is stay the course.”
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Marc-André Chenail grew up on the family farm in Ste-Clothilde, in
the heart of the region referred to as “The gardens of
Quebec”.
You could say that agriculture was in his blood: his two
great-grand-fathers were farmers and the farm he operates today has
been in his family since 1933. Every spring, Marc-André walks
through the fields and rediscovers the pleasure of watching his
produce grow.
The efforts he has put into research and development have been
fruitful: today, his farm is CanadaGAP Certified, the highest
standards in food safety and supply chain verification.
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For the Hubert brothers, celery is more than a vegetable, it’s a
heritage. “My maternal grand-father brought seeds with him from
France when he arrived here in the 1920s”, recalls Pierre
Hubert.
Today the l’Assomption farm cultivates 45 hectares of
organically-rich black earth to produce the crunchiest celery
around. And the love for the trade has not disappeared. On the
contrary, Claude, Jean and Pierre Hubert have been able to transmit
their passion for agriculture to the upcoming generation and plan
to leave the farm to their children. “But I’m not ready to retire
just yet!” Pierre cries out laughingly, still energetic now into
his sixties.
Lucky for all celery lovers here!
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Even though he is part of the fourth generation of farmers in the
family, as a child, Gilbert never intended to work on the farm.
“There was too much work to do on the fields, I preferred playing
with my friends!” he laughingly recounts.
After a short detour in the United States to learn English, he
came back to the farm and, with his sister as his partner, resumed
farming fresh beans.
Working together, they increased the family farm from 45 to 1000
acres, and changed their method of farming extensively to limit its
ecological footprint. “We replaced giant tractors with worms; they
do the same job and they never break down!” Come winter, Gilbert
travels the world in search of new environment-friendly ideas he
can bring back to Quebec to grow even better beans while protecting
the planet.
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With his brother Martin and cousin Jean-François, Jocelyn
Gibouleau is part of the third generation of market growers to work
the family fields on Rang des Perrons, in North-Eastern Laval. A
passionate family, where nobody counts the hours they work. “I’m
happy to see my father Richard still very active in the fields at
64”, Jocelyn declared.
With its state-of-the-art technology, the farm’s forte is the
absolute freshness of its produce, picked at its peak.
For Jocelyn Gibouleau, growing fresh vegetables on Quebec soil is
not just a means of livelihood, it’s a gesture for the planet.
That’s why he puts his whole heart into it.
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When Marc Vanvelzen’s father arrived here from Holland after the
Second World War, his main asset was his willingness to work. He
established his first farm on rented land in the Boucherville
islands: “At the time, we were just about the only people in the
region to grow sweet corn,” Marc recounts.
With his brothers Patrick and Paul, he stands in awe at the
advancements he’s witnessed since the days when all the work was
done manually. When the first corn harvester came on the market, it
was as exciting as walking on the moon!
Just like his father who, at 75 years of age, still loves his
trade and brings his sons coffee every morning, Marc enjoys the
freedom of working outdoors. “Nothing is more satisfying than
watching what you’ve planted in the fields, grow,” he proclaims. A
passion we can taste in his corn!
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