Véronique Rivest and Outaouais: a perfect match!
Here we are in Outaouais to continue the Mangeons local plus que jamais tour, organized by the Union of Agricultural Producers in collaboration with the regional federation of the UPA Outaouais-Laurentides.
It is sommelier Véronique Rivest who is leading this day of visits as the ambassador of her region. She is known for her achievements in the field, including her second-place finish at the Best Sommelier in the World competition in 2013. Her deep connection to Outaouais is undeniable; she has lived there her whole life and opened Soif, her own wine bar located in Gatineau.
“People always think I live in Montreal, but I’ve lived here almost my entire life. There are also talents in the region!” she points out.
Ferme Laronde
Our first stop: Laronde Farm. Located in Venosta, the business was purchased in 2010 by Carole Laplante and Donald Laronde, who wanted to turn it into a retirement project. Initially, they had a few cows and laying hens. Then, in 2015, they decided to start raising lambs. “Our animals are raised naturally on pasture, free-range, without antibiotics or hormones. We are very proud of that.” The males and females are kept separate to control the population. Véronique was even charmed by these endearing creatures, which she had the chance to pet!
Since 2019, the owners have also been growing small fruits and various vegetables, available for self-picking. Among other things, they offer honeyberries, raspberries, blueberries, beets, cabbage, and carrots. This addition has allowed their business to incorporate more agritourism, which is an important aspect for Carole. They are also members of Terego, a platform offering RV spaces on Canadian farms.
In their shop and on their website, they sell, among other things, jams, ground cherry ketchup, and canned vegetables.
Ferme Lève-tôt
Next, we meet Richard Williams and Charlotte Scott, who founded Ferme Lève-tôt in 2010, a project born from hard work and great opportunities. In fact, the owners had the chance to launch their business as part of the Plateforme agricole de l’Ange-Gardien, an incubator farm that provides financial support and guidance for new farmers. Through this platform, farmers can refine their business plans and deepen their knowledge of agricultural practices during the first five years of their venture. In 2011, after just two years, Richard and Charlotte decided to go out on their own.
Located on a five-acre plot, this organic farm grows over 45 varieties of vegetables. Buckwheat and rye are used as green manure in their crop rotations. Richard and Charlotte sell their products in vegetable baskets to around 150 households and also operate a stall at the Wakefield market.
Richard and Charlotte run one of the few Quebec farms that work exclusively with horses. Their two equine colleagues, Bart and Buck, are of the Norwegian Fjord breed. They assist with planting, seeding, integrating cover crops and vegetable residues, and even weed control.
Richard demonstrated some of the tools he uses for daily farmwork. While some tools are still sold today, others date back to the 1940s. Although the machinery may seem outdated, the couple assures that these tools are just as effective in 2021 as they were back then!
We were treated to a demonstration of plowing the land with the horses. Véronique also had the privilege of bringing the horses back to their stable.
Marché McMillan
Next, we head to Wakefield to visit the McMillans, where a beautiful spread awaits us for lunch. The baskets from the Gatineau-based caterer Les Flavoureux are mouthwatering. Flower pots and cherry tomatoes straight from the garden are gracefully arranged on the table. For lunch, Scott Judd, owner of Little Red Wagon Winery, joins us for a wine tasting, featuring a red and a white wine, which Véronique kindly offers to open and serve to everyone!
After the meal, we head to Marché McMillan, where we meet Chloé McMillan, a second-generation farmer and owner of a market garden. Since 2018, she has been growing over thirty varieties of vegetables in her two-acre garden. Chloé works hard to make her garden thrive, constantly on the lookout for the best methods to practice sustainable and responsible farming. No pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers are used, and all her products are certified organic by Ecocert Canada.
Chloé’s favorite spot on the farm? Her greenhouse! She grows cherry tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers there. Residents can purchase vegetable baskets from her farm.
McMillan Farm
Next, we head to McMillan Farm, located near the market of the same name, which has been in operation for 30 years. Myles McMillan and Cynthia Duncan raise animals on their farm, situated along the Gatineau River. The animals are raised in a natural environment, with no pesticides, hormones, or chemical fertilizers used on their land. The calves are born on the farm and spend their entire lives grazing to ensure they eat high-quality, natural food. It’s truly a beautiful sight to see the cows and calves freely roaming across their vast land!
Verger Croque-Pomme
The final stop: Verger Croque-Pomme, located in Thurso. Fater Youssef, an agronomist by training and a doctor in microbiology, arrived in Canada in 2011. He began working at Verger Croque-Pomme before becoming a co-owner.
Since joining the business, he has focused on the production and discovery of rustic apples for self-picking. The orchard has over thirty varieties of fruit trees, including around twenty apple trees, plum trees, and pear trees. This year, for the first time, the orchard will offer self-picking of certified organic apples.
The farm spans fourteen hectares, with a vegetable garden also open for self-picking. In recent years, pumpkin and squash production has been added to the list of activities.
After a long walk through the orchard, the tour concluded at the orchard’s bistro, where we enjoyed their variety of artisanal ciders, Brylee Farm’s smoked meat, and cheeses such as Tête à Papineau and Manchebello from Fromagerie Montebello. Véronique also took the opportunity to offer some wine pairing tips for the tasting.
Shining a Light on Her Region
After a sunny day enjoying local products and discovering the hard work of the region’s producers, Véronique leaves the orchard to return home to Gatineau. “I realized that with my career as a sommelier and my knowledge of viticulture, I know more about agriculture than I thought!” she reflects. However, she adds that, in her opinion, it is the producers who are the key players when it comes to feeding Quebec. “My job seems much easier than theirs,” she says jokingly. Happy to have had the chance to engage with the producers in her region, she reiterates that the sense of community and returning to local food sources are essential needs, not only for farmers but also for those who consume their products.
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
