Here we go again! Quebec’s Public Markets Week kicks off tomorrow, and it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Montreal’s public markets together! Did you know that there are 12 in our network? Have you visited them all?   

This year, the week runs from August 1 to 11, and highlights the importance of public markets for local food, while showcasing the work of Quebec’s many agricultural producers and bio-food artisans. This 16^th edition also focuses on the authenticity and freshness of local products, while emphasizing on the connection with the community and the territory. 

Take advantage of the Semaine des Marchés Publics du Québec, an initiative of the Association des marchés publics du Québec, to discover the many public markets located in Montreal! Here’s a list of the various events taking place during this period.  

August 1 to 11: our public markets come alive   

At the Atwater Market  

The Atwater Market, known for its historic architecture and friendly atmosphere, will be full of life during this week of outreach.  The 2^nd edition of La Foire des vins et cidres d’ici will be in full swing on August 3 and 4, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with wine and cider tasting workshops and 15 producers on hand to let visitors discover and taste their products. During the other days of the week, the Market will also be bustling with activity, thanks to the Pôle des Saveurs restaurants and all the fresh produce vendors. 

At the Jean-Talon Market

The Jean-Talon Market, one of the largest public markets in North America, is a mainstay of Montreal’s gastronomic scene. During the Semaine des Marchés Publics, on August 3 and 4, you’ll be able to take part in free activities, including an herb gardening workshop and an introduction to the circus. The following weekend, August 10 and 11, it’s the turn of Marché Jean-Talon to host the Foire des vins et cidres d’ici. Above all, producers who have worked hard in their fields will be present as usual, with corn, broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes and many more fresh products.

At the Maisonneuve Market

Maisonneuve Market, located in the east end of Montreal, also contributes to the diversity and accessibility of local produce. This summer, the Market inaugurated a new outdoor area, welcoming more producers and merchants and increasing the variety of products on offer. Tables and relaxation areas are also provided, creating an environment conducive to meetings and exchanges.

The Neighborhood and Solidarity Markets

Public markets just off a metro station or in a park are also packed with fresh, local products. Be sure to visit one of the network’s six Neighbourhood markets: Square Victoria, Place Jacques-Cartier, Carré Saint-Louis, Métro Papineau, Plateau Mont-Royal and Jean-Brillant.

The Solidarity Markets, meanwhile, are operated by non-profit organizations seeking a fair price for their produce. Their mission: to improve the supply of fresh, local and affordable produce in Montreal. Visit both the Marché Solidaire Frontenac and the Marché Solidaire Ahuntsic-Cartierville in the coming days!

Celebrating Public Markets means supporting the values of proximity and responsibility!

The 2024 Semaine des Marchés Publics du Québec is also an opportunity to celebrate and promote the values that motivate us, including proximity and responsibility.

Proximity

At the Montreal Public Markets, we’re not just shopping, we’re hitting the market. Here, a bond develops between the merchant and the customer. You can discuss recipes with your cheesemonger, cooking techniques with your butcher, or talk to your farmer about upcoming early produce. This proximity is at the heart of everything we do.

In addition to the merchants who return year after year to serve their loyal clientele, new players also decide to experience the market for the first time each new season. To welcome them, new rental formulas are introduced, including Kiosques de la Relève and Daily Spaces. Have you been out to meet these new merchants?

Responsibility

Combating food waste has always been at the heart of the Montreal Public Markets’ mission. Our merchants produce exceptional foodstuffs, and it goes without saying that we must add value to them, from the moment they are harvested in the fields to their final stage of life.

Are you familiar with our unsold food recovery program? Every week, producers at the Atwater and Jean-Talon Markets place their unsold produce in a dedicated refrigerator, where partner organizations collect it and distribute it in the form of food baskets or transformed into delicious recipes. Since the launch of this program, over 78 tonnes of fruit and vegetables have been redistributed to households in need in the form of food baskets or ready-to-eat meals!

Thank you for supporting our public markets and our merchants !

The Semaine des Marchés Publics du Québec is an initiative of the Association des marchés publics du Québec, which is very pleased to count on the contribution of the Union des producteurs des agricoles (UPA) as official presenter, and the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) as financial partner of this radiant initiative.

The AMPQ’s mission is to accompany and support the emergence, development and promotion of the Quebec Public Markets network for the benefit of local communities and producers and artisans in Quebec’s bio-food sector. To find a public market recognized by the AMPQ: marchespublicsduquebec.ca