Why subscribe to Équiterre’s family farmers' organic baskets?
An organic basket subscription is the easiest solution to eat organically, locally and in solidarity with our local farmers!
Organic Farming
Organic farming is the best solution for your health and the health of your family. It has been proven that exposure to the pesticides used in food production is risky and harmful for your health. Opting for organic products is the best solution to protect you and your family.
Buying Locally
Buying locally is trendy! Organic baskets help the local economy, reduce food mileage and give customers access to tasty, freshly picked food that is full of nutrients. Organic baskets are popular: In 2016, more than 17,000 subscriptions fed over 52,000 people!
Solidarity
Solidarity in our buying choices makes a difference around us: We are supporting a farming model that is cohesive with our values, and the direct link with farmers helps them live better, since they get 100 % of the value of subscriptions. It’s a win-win relationship.
Attractive pricing
The price is more advantageous than buying organic produce from a store, and represents savings of around 28 %!
Flexible format
The format is flexible… you can pay in several instalments, exchange products at the point of delivery, change the format of your basket during the season, put your deliveries on hold during your vacations and often, you can also order additional products. Your family farmer is attentive to your needs.
Who are your family farmers?
Équiterre’s family farmers are up-and-coming young farmers, or family-run farms, or professionals who have changed careers… but they’re all passionate about what they do! They share a passion for feeding their fellow citizens well and building trust-based relationships.
They were selected by Équiterre and a committee of farmers, so you can subscribe in full confidence.
Équiterre is proud to support farms currently obtaining their certification
The network of family farmers, which was created more than 20 year ago, is composed of 119 farms. 90 % hold organic certification, and the others are currently in the process of obtaining it.
Équiterre supports businesses during this period and suggests you do the same. Some farms have just begun production and haven’t yet obtained their certification. Others farmed traditionally and are now transitioning to organic, a process that takes 1 to 3 years. You have access to each farm’s certification status to inform you in choosing an organic farm or one that is being certified.
What is the production mode for organic baskets?
What distinguishes family farmers’ production is their wide variety of products and their regenerative farming techniques in which soil life is maximized and biodiversity is preserved.
Intensive farming techniques on small areas are more and more common. This approach, which is primarily manual, has the advantage of being inexpensive to start up, requiring little space and using little gasoline.
Extensive farming techniques are also used, where tractors prepare and weed the soil. Some farmers choose to work their land with horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my basket delivered to my home or to a point of delivery?
Your basket will be delivered to a point of delivery that you select when you subscribe.
Do I subscribe by contacting Équiterre?
You subscribe by directly contacting the farm you select.
Can I choose the content of my basket?
To make their lives easier, the farmers prepare your basket themselves. They offer standardized baskets, but the mini-market format is often offered with choices. As well, an exchange basket is always available on site.
Which basket format should I choose?
The formats and values of baskets vary from one farm to another and the quantity of vegetables that an individual, couple or family consumes varies depending on how often you cook, eat out, etc. In any case, you can modify the format of your basket along the way.
Does my basket contain only local, organic food?
Organic baskets contain only organic food from Québec. No products are imported. However, if the farm you choose is currently in the process of certification, you will receive fresh, local products that are not certified organic.
Why must I pay an $18 contribution to Équiterre’s family farmers network?
Your contribution enables Équiterre to support family farmers in their organization, marketing and promotion. It also enables us to develop the format in order to offer it to a larger number of customers. Thus, all subscribers contribute towards funding the project and farmers pay a reasonable contribution. This contribution does not make you a member of Équiterre.
Does Équiterre guarantee my season with the farm?
Équiterre cannot make any guarantees concerning the partnership between farms and subscribers. The family farmers’ network is based on a link of solidarity between a farm and its customers. It is customers’ responsibility to inform themselves about the nature of the farm’s project before subscribing, and it is the farm’s responsibility to take every means necessary to ensure that the quality and quantity of products are sufficient to satisfy subscribers throughout the entire season. Équiterre only acts as an intermediary between farms and subscribers so that they can participate in this ecological, community-based and human scale food model.
Are there also deliveries in wintertime?
Some family farmers, about 20 of them, offer winter vegetable baskets, as well as a collective composed of 20 farms, “Bio Locaux.” This type of basket means farms must plan for additional harvests during the summertime and have the infrastructures to store and distribute root vegetables for the wintertime. Wintertime baskets are generally delivered every two weeks, from November to March or April. They primarily contain root vegetables (potatoes, cabbages, carrots, onions, garlic, etc.) and often, greens, greenhouse vegetables, sprouts and prepared products.
Subscribe to Équiterre's family farmers' organic baskets
Équiterre also support farms currently obtaining their certification.