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“We started our season with debt for two years. This year, we have reached the end of our debt capacity,” says Anne Roussel, co-owner of Ferme Cadet Roussel located on Mont-Saint-Grégoire in Montérégie.
In February and March customers must pick up their subscription to receive organic vegetable baskets during the summer. Cadet Roussel Farm supplies 500 baskets per week year round in normal times.
Subscriptions allow producers to start the season with some money in their pocket, but that is no longer the case for the organic basket pioneer since end
From the epidemic.
If Cadet Russell's difficulties attract attention, it's because it was one of the first farms to launch the organic basket model.
This is a real wake-up call, and I'm not the first to say it. There are a lot of farmers who have reached the end of their rope.
There have been difficult weather conditions over the past two years. The number of farms is decreasing. Farmers find employment opportunities abroad. Moreover, this is what Financière agricole advised us to do: find work abroad to keep our farm running.
Says.
To keep its head above water, the farm this year is trying a new model, a community farm model where customers become partners. This model exists in the United States and Germany.
At least 250 partners have embarked on this project so far, representing 70% of the financial target. It is necessary, the company writes, $625,000 to provide about 300 families with vegetables for a year
.
The problem is that the deadline is today, this Friday. The co-owner confirms that the decision to launch the season or not will be made this weekend.
Anne Russell, co-owner of Cadet Russell Ranch
Photo: Radio-Canada
Inflation, weather and competition
Other farms, such as Mon Basket Bio Farm, located in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, have also noticed a decline in the popularity of vegetable baskets. During the pandemic, his small farm provided 150 baskets, three times its normal production. Over the past two years, that number has dropped to 50 baskets, says owner Yann Baudry.
To manage his farm, he works alone 70 hours a week, without paying himself a salary. His daughter is preparing to work with him, but he does not know if he will be able to increase his income.
According to him, many customers were disappointed by the offer of organic hampers during the pandemic. Because of the sudden exposure, many producers jumped into it without having experience. Yet he sends this message: Try other producers. If you want to choose your basket, it is possible! Above all, don't give up yet!
For her part, Director General of the Family Farmers Network, Emilie Viau-Drouin, cites the economic slowdown, weather fluctuations, labor shortages and competition to explain the difficulties faced by some farms.
There are new players added. Large grocery chains where you can find everything you can imagine in a basket and do home deliveries. There are also other types of companies that have emerged on the scene
she explained.
It is certain that when companies come in offering a similar product, it creates unfair competition, in the sense that it is too great. This could put some farms at risk, because these types of deliveries are made all over the country.
We realize that life is crazy today, and that the pace is hectic, not only to cook, but also to go to the grocery store or pick up your basket, but we like to remember that our product is unique. It's about meeting those who produce our food. Let's take a moment to stop and meet them, we think it's magical
The general manager adds.
Lofa Farms criticized
Lofa's greenhouses produce vegetables all year round.
Photo: Radio-Canada/Alexis Polian
Émilie Viau-Drouin does not want to name specific companies, but Fermes Lufa is one of those new players that has expanded and become worrying.
On the program anything can happen, Former Huntingdon mayor Stephane Gendron, who also lives on a farm, criticized Lofa To manufacture rooftop agriculture in Montreal
At the expense of small municipalities.
Anne Russell also finds it very surprising to see her Vegetables from Montreal arrive in the countryside
. Why don't people in the area say to themselves: Where is the nearest farmer to me? I will encourage him! I want there to be farmland!
Lufa Farms produces vegetables using Montreal rooftop greenhouses, but also offers customers a full range of products through its online platform. At least 32,000 families buy loofah baskets, says President and CEO Mohamed Al-Hajj, who denies unfair competition with local producers.
Our main competition is banners and products outside of Quebec, not local producers. On the contrary, only 10% of Lofa products are products, and the remaining 90% are products from other producers, about a hundred of which are organic farms.
The Lufa platform allows local products to be sold directly to families without producers having to develop a distribution network.
He explains.
Moreover, times are also tough for Lofa Farms. For two years, sales have slowed and the company is experiencing financial losses that should reverse in 2024, Mohamed Al-Hajj hopes.
In 2020, the company signed on to build a new rooftop greenhouse, a new warehouse and an indoor farm. She implemented her projects despite her low income, but there are no others on the horizon.
Listen to the report from Karen Mathieu On the program It matters to us On ICI Premiere.
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