The Gleaner

Visitors flock to local farms

le mardi 12 septembre 2017
Modifié à 0 h 00 min le 12 septembre 2017

Across the Montérégie, over 30,000 visitors took part in this past weekend’s 15th edition of the Open House on family farms event organized by the UPA. A total of twenty farms participated in the event from the region, including two in the Haut-Saint-Laurent.

Visitors began filling the parking field at the Biquettes à Flopine Goat Farm in Saint-Anicet as of 10 am on Sunday, to the delight of owners Sophie Gascon and David Vincent. With over forty volunteers at their site alone, visitors were warmly welcomed while they toured the barns where the goats are kept, as well as the farm in general.

"We are very happy," said Sophie Gascon, while wondering out loud if they were going to run out of parking space for the visitors flocking to the farm. For Gascon, the opportunity to participate in the UPA’s annual event was a chance to introduce her farm and her products to a wider audience, while also informing people about this little-known type of production. Following their visit through the barns, visitors were also able to enjoy samples of the many delicious products offered by the Biquettes à Flopine.

"We always say, happy animals mean a happy producer," she added, noting she takes great pride in ensuring her animals are content and well cared for.

The COOP Les Jardins de la Résistance also on show

In Ormstown, the market garden Les Jardins de la Résistance also opened their farm to visitors throughout the day. With signs reminding visitors they were "all a part of the recipe" at the entrance to the farm, visitors were treated to a glimpse of the world of organic market gardening.

For the team of owners at the Cooperative, the day represented an opportunity to gain some publicity while also introducing visitors to the art of vegetable gardening on a larger yet environmentally friendly and responsible scale.

Province-wide activity

In total, over 100 farms across the province participated in this year’s edition of one of the UPA’s marquee events aimed at raising awareness of the important role agriculture and farmers play in all of our lives. In Montreal, the UPA also took over the Olympic Parc with free activities for the family throughout the day, while those willing to venture outside the city were able to explore first-hand the regions and the diversity of products grown and raised in Quebec. The Open House is also a very popular event for locals to rediscover their own region as well as the incredible farmers living next door.   

Two farms from the Hemmingford region also participated in the event this year. The Cidrerie de Minot welcomed visitors to discover their wines and ciders, while the Levie Chevaux de Performance Riding Centre also opened their doors.