The minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne, announced $50,000 in financial assistance to the Town of Stanstead to help it build infrastructure that will facilitate the holding of its local market.

"I am proud to support this project that will bring people together in the Stanstead community. The farmers’ market helps local producers to showcase their products directly, while meeting families from across the region. This is in line with our vision in the Food Policy. Today’s announcement will help the market install permanent shelters and increase access to local, fresh and healthy foods from the region and across the province."
- The Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Public markets are a preferred means of promoting local products to consumers. This project will generate positive impacts for agricultural producers and processors, and local merchants will also benefit from the influx of customers. By holding a well-equipped outdoor public market, the Town of Stanstead will provide itself with a great attraction and a crossroads conducive to the creation of lasting and privileged links between consumers and producers, processors and artisans. I am therefore very pleased to offer this financial assistance that will allow this market to continue to develop and distinguish itself.”
- André Lamontagne, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

“Stanstead’s public market attracts residents of the town and the surrounding area by promoting the region’s products and making them accessible. It is an asset just to have such a market in Estrie. It will certainly become a local marketing hub and a place to share.”
- Gilles Bélanger, Member for Orford

• The Programme Proximité aims to bring agricultural producers and artisanal processors closer to consumers by promoting local marketing initiatives to meet consumers’ needs.

• Cooperatives, NPOs, business groups, municipal government entities and Indigenous communities can receive financial assistance for collective projects concerning:

  • activities carried out within the same region or within 150 kilometres of the place of production or processing;
  • activities involving no more than one intermediary between the agricultural production or artisanal food processing company and the consumer.

• In 2018, the local market in Stanstead generated gross revenue of more than $30,000.

• Since the creation of the Programme Proximité, $161,000 has been provided in the Estrie region.

• The Memphrémagog regional county municipality has eight public markets.

• Its region contains 231 farms that generate an estimated gross revenue of $35.6 million.

Justine Lesage
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
justine.lesage@canada.ca
613-404-1168 (mobile) 

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Laurence Voyzelle
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