MONTREAL, June 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ – Metro and Équiterre are pleased to be associated with the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project, for the carrying out of a pilot project that will take place during the summer of 2012. From June to November, three Metro stores, namely the ones in Granby, Joliette and Trois-Rivières (on boulevard des Forges) will serve as drop-off points for baskets of fresh vegetables that are certified organic or in the process of becoming so, prepared by agricultural producers who are members of the Family Farmers network. Metro thus becomes the first food banner to sign up as a drop-off point for this project, which enables citizens to become partners of a local farm by pre-ordering vegetable baskets produced while respecting the environment.
“We are delighted that Metro has been so receptive to this initiative. We know that the majority of purchases are made in supermarkets, so our partnership with Metro will allow us to reach that clientele in order to offer them fresh, organic and local products” explains Colleen Thorpe, Spokesperson, Sustainability Accompanying Services of Équiterre.
Équiterre has been coordinating the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network since 1996. Citizens who are interested must register with the producers in order to receive their basket each week of the season. They can pick them up in the parking lot of the participating Metro stores. The content of the baskets depends on how far the season has progressed. Citizens can register now and registration will continue as long as space remains.
“The Community Supported Agriculture project provides us with an opportunity to broaden our efforts aimed at supporting Quebec suppliers by directly linking the consumer with the farmer in their region” said Bernadette Hamel, Vice-President, National Procurement – Produce, Metro Inc.
“We are proud to cooperate with Équiterre, an organization known for supporting ecological agriculture in Quebec, in carrying out this one of a kind pilot project that is a direct result of the commitments made as part of our Corporate Responsibility process: to benefit the communities in which we operate and that we supply. Our heart is set on making this project successful” said Marie-Claude Bacon, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs Department, Metro Inc.
To find out more about Metro’s initiatives aimed at featuring Quebec products: www.metro.ca/produits-quebec.en.html
To find out more about the Équiterre Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project and to find the Metro drop-off points in your area: www.equiterre.org/en/solution/family-farmers
Metro stores and producers taking part in the pilot project
