Combating food waste has always been at the heart of the mission of the Montreal Public Markets. Our merchants produce exceptional foodstuffs, and it goes without saying that they should be promoted from the moment they are harvested in the field right through to their final stage of life.

In 2016, this desire gave rise to the Récolte engagée programme, the aim of which is to give unsold produce from our markets, that is still fit for consumption to households in need in the neighbourhoods around our markets. Every week, producers put their unsold produce in a specially identified fridge and the food is collected by dedicated organisations one to three times a week. The food is then distributed in the form of food hampers or transformed into delicious recipes.

« Montreal public Markets are part of sustainable development on a daily basis because of their local nature. They offer consumers a short circuit with direct contact to producers. It was only natural that we should continue in this vein and bring fresh market produce to as many households in the district as possible, whatever the size of their wallet.»

Nicolas Fabien-Ouellet, Managing Director of Montreal public Markets

Jean-Talon Market

We are working with the Centre de ressources et d’action communautaire de La Petite-Patrie (CRACPP), a well-established organisation in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, to recycle unsold produce from the Jean-Talon Market.

CRACPP is an organisation that fights poverty. Through its food security activities and its fight against waste, it contributes to improving the living conditions of the members of its community and defending fundamental human rights.

In the 2023 season itself, the Récolte engagée at Jean-Talon Market managed to recover 16 356 kg of fruit and vegetables, from more than sixty-five varieties. Of these, 61% (9 958 kg) were redistributed to low-income households in 2 458 baskets, while 16% (2 541 kg) were prepared as ready-to-eat meals.
This initiative benefited 847 households in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, thanks to the collaboration of the merchants at Jean-Talon Market.

Discover the monthly results of the Récolte engagée at the Jean-Talon Market.

Atwater Market

Following the success of the programme at the Jean-Talon Market, la Récolte engagée has been present at the Atwater Market since November 2022. We’re working with the organization Partageons l’espoir to make the most of the market’s unsold goods.

Operating in the Sud-Ouest and Verdun, Partageons l’espoir helps households in these neighbourhoods through a range of programmes, including a food bank, market and community dinners.

Discover the monthly reports of Partageons l’Espoir at the Atwater Market. Reports to come.

The Récolte engagée would not be possible without the significant support of the producers at the Montreal Public Markets. Every day, they help us feed Montreal families, and their involvement in their neighbourhoods is essential. We’d like to thank all the merchants who take part in this project and make it a success!