With the regional growing season over, Quebec broccoli suppliers are looking south of the border to meet demand for the winter months. For Laval’s Les Productions MarGiric, Inc., that means shifting production to the company’s farms in Florida.Unlike some other local grower/suppliers, Les Productions MarGiric has the advantage of owning farmland on both sides of the Canada-US border. For the summer and fall months, the company sources from the 3,000 acres that it owns throughout southern Quebec and Ontario. The company also owns 2,000 acres in Florida for winter crops. This year, they’re using 1,800 acres of that land to grow their winter broccoli and other signature products, including cauliflower, bell peppers, and cantaloupe.
According to Mario Cloutier, the company’s Director of Sales, Florida-sourced broccoli creates shipping challenges for Quebec suppliers.
“I have to be really tactical with Florida,” Cloutier explains. “When I ship from Laval QC, our product is already iced. From Florida, everything is shipped iceless or shrink-wrapped.”
Cloutier says this is to keep long-distance shipping costs as low as possible. Due to space and weight restrictions, the company is able to ship up to 1,920 cases of broccoli if the product is packed without ice. With ice, that number drops to 1,056.
Cloutier notes that market-wide demand for broccoli remains stable, but adds that to maintain market share against competitors, MarGiric is focussing on new packaging and marketing materials.
For more information:
Mario Cloutier
Les Productions MarGiric, Inc.
Tel: (+1) 450-628-1516
Mobile: (+1) 514-862-1518