Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), also known as "green baskets" is a socio-economic model that links individuals to local farms. Broadly speaking, the individual becomes a partner of a farm in his region, by buying in advance, a share of the farmer’s and/or breeder’s produce.

This is a win-win solution, because on one hand, the consumer is assured of receiving a basket of locally grown organic products each week, and on the other, the farmer is assured of an income at the beginning of the season, which enables him to properly plan his production.
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Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on May 30, 2009.

I am going to start a new tradition with this column. From now on, I will try and concentrate on all things ‘local’. Each week, we’ll talk about early fruits and vegetables in the marketplace, and also suggest recipes that include them.

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Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on May 19, 2007.

Summer is fast approaching and the first lot of locally produced vegetables have started appearing on the shelves. So this is the ideal time to buy fresh produce, even from the supermarkets, where asparagus and fiddleheads are on offer this week.

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Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on June 3, 2006.

Tender, fresh and delicately tasty, asparagus from Quebec are finally back! They can be easily identified by the “Aliments Québec” logo printed either on a yellow elastic band or on the producers’ label, which is a sign of unparalleled freshness and nutritional value.

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Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on May 20, 2006.

Also known as ‘crosier’, after the curved staff used by bishops, this is the vegetable that announces the advent of spring.

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Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on February 28, 2008.

Sugar shack season is almost here. Between the months of March and April, the snow is still on the ground, but it’s warm during the day. It is during this time that maple sap is harvested and concentrated to give us that delicious product called maple syrup. So let’s make the most of spring and go visit our maple groves to stock up on the syrup.

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‘Terra Madre’ Day will be celebrated for the very first time on December 10, 2009.

To mark this occasion, you are invited to organize an activity that encourages and supports local food products. Even as I write this, more than 800 events are already being planned in more than 100 countries.

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