Agrotourism: the art and the way

In the first text of my series for the Montreal Public Markets, I stressed the importance of reconnecting with local agriculture. Because when we develop close ties with our food (by taking an interest in where it comes from, how it's produced, when it's abundant, the people who produced it, the ways it's cooked...), we love it more and take care of it more. Taking care of food by cooking it with care, without wasting a crumb. And taking care, in a more global sense, of nature and the ecosystems that make it possible to feed ourselves, as well as the wonderful people who make farming their profession and their way of life.

Of course, we develop close ties with food and farmers by visiting local farmers' markets, but as we enter the summer vacation season, there's another great way to get closer to where our food comes from: visit the farms where it's produced! As I wrote in Prenez le champ, “the great thing about agrotourism and gourmet tourism is that they equip us and contribute, in a very tasty way, to making us curious, sensitive and responsible eaters”. There's nothing like associating stories, faces, villages and landscapes with our food to make it more meaningful to us. Our memorable multisensory experiences in the fields stay with us for a long time: they carve out a special place in our gourmet memories, and come to life again, later, when we visit the market. Doesn't the smell of fresh strawberries on the stalls awaken our fondest memories of picking? And what about that cheese you find that reminds you of that happy visit to the goats frolicking in the meadows of the cheese dairy?

But which farms to visit? Where to start for information? What are the agrotourist reflexes to develop? Here are a few tips!

Find farms to visit

A family activity par excellence with a thousand possibilities from one end of Quebec to the other, agrotourism has something to please every generation and every taste. Whichever region you visit this summer, there are hundreds of farms offering guided tours, pick-your-own, walking tours, picnics and other delicious agri-food adventures. Here are a few tips to help you find what you're looking for:

• The Terroir et Saveurs website, from the Association québécoise de l'agrotourisme et du tourisme gourmand, brings together member establishments from all regions of Quebec.
• The websites of tourism regions (e.g. Tourisme Lanaudière, Tourisme Mauricie, etc.) virtually all have a section listing members' farm visits and gourmet stops within their territory.
• Some gourmet tours list members (e.g. Circuit du paysan in Montérégie, Route des saveurs in Charlevoix, etc.).
• Websites of Agrifood Tables (e.g. Croquez l'Outaouais), regional brands or certifications (e.g. Le bon goût frais des Îles) or other initiatives and projects, such as Créateurs de saveurs in the Eastern Townships or Autocueillette.com in Capitale-Nationale. You'll usually come across these sites fairly quickly by doing a search using the word “agrotourism” and the name of the region or sector you're visiting.
• Independent projects like Prenez le champ! offer 21 agritourism outings in 9 regions near major urban centers.

• Your visits to the market: talk to your favorite merchants and find out if they offer tours of their farms!

   

4 reflexes to develop

1. Visit websites, Facebook pages or call to check opening times before you go (especially in the context of adapting to the Coronavirus).
2. Respect local instructions. Farms are both a place to live and a workplace for farmers. We're lucky enough to be welcomed on their premises, so the least we can do is show respect. Respect for schedules, for private areas, for indications that may be shared, such as picking from a particular row. Let's be “good visitors”!
3. Bring a cooler and ice packs. Chances are, you'll be so inspired by your visits and experiences that you won't want to be limited in what you can take home as victuals!
4. Don't forget your picnic kit! Imagine all the disposable crockery you'll save, when you get the urge to picnic, by taking reusable plates, knives and forks with you.

If the opportunity to visit farms doesn't present itself this summer, know that there are agrotourism options four seasons a year, and that at all times, products from local farmers and great encounters await you at public markets near you!
Enjoy your visit!

Some Montreal Public Markets merchants offering agrotourism:

Domaine Villeneuve

• Activities: U-pick and farm tour
• Location: Saint-Joseph-du-Lac
• Website: www.vergerdomainevilleneuve.ca

• Facebook page: Domaine Villeneuve

   

Le Potager Mont-Rouge Halte Gourmande

• Activities: U-pick strawberries, blueberries, apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, eggplant and basil, tractor rides, mini-farm, playground and marquee.
• Location: Rougemont
• Website: www.potagermont-rouge.ca
• Facebook page: Potager Mont-Rouge Halte Gourmande

Vignoble et cidrerie Coteau Rougemont

• Activities: Tours and tastings.
• Location: Rougemont
• Website: coteaurougemont.ca

• Facebook Page: Vignoble Coteau Rougemont

   

Julie Aubé is a nutritionist with a passion for Quebec flavors, sustainable agriculture and agrotourism. As the organizer of the Prenez le champ! events, she plays the role of matchmaker, bringing curious gourmets together with local producers. A trainer and speaker, she is a regular contributor to magazines and websites, as well as to her website JULIEAUBE.com. In 2016, she published the book Prenez le champ! with Éditions de l'Homme, and this summer she has just released her second book, Mangez local! with the same publisher, full of techniques and recipes for localizing your diet month by month. A small guide with big hopes of equipping and inspiring you to follow the rhythm of the seasons on the menu. Follow Julie on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo credit: Marie Des Neiges Magnan