All the reasons are good to attend the public markets of our beautiful province and why not take the children there with us!
Good news: more and more Quebecers are abandoning the supermarket in favor of vegetable baskets and public markets, a place of direct exchange between citizens and producers agriculture in a given region. If, in large urban centers, a return to the land is more complicated, going to public markets is an informed choice. On the one hand, you can find fresh, seasonal food at the public market: no more California strawberries! In addition, this is a golden opportunity to meet the producers who, with love, have grown all these delicious vegetables and fruits that will color your plates.
Visiting a public market allows you to take the pulse of your community, since you meet the inhabitants there, but also a panoply of local artisans.
Informed purchases
In addition to offering you fresher products, the public market allows you to make smart purchases. Thus, you promote the development and sustainability of businesses run by people from here. We know: in the face of the giants of agriculture and the massive importationof food from all over the world, the future of vegetable and fruit growing in Quebec is threatened. It is estimated that a large farm disappears every day in Quebec. The future of local producers would therefore depend a lot on public markets, since supermarkets often do not carry or carry very few Quebec products.
By buying local and seasonal products, you considerably reduce your ecological footprint. Indeed, the products we buy at the market will only have traveled a few kilometers to reach our cottage, unlike eggplants from Chile or apples from the United States…
6 reasons to take the kids there
Awareness: These days, you can find strawberries and blueberries all year round at the supermarket. But these foods, which have crossed thousands of kilometers to reach us, are less fresh and therefore less tasty. Moreover, they are not in season. Going to the market therefore makes your child aware of the seasonality of fruits and vegetables: a golden opportunity to talk about the environment and our collective responsibility.
Human contact: They have the opportunity to see that behind each of the products placed on their plate are faces.
Open their horizons: Faced with the abundance of the offer, your child will be fascinated. Not to mention that he will have the chance to taste several different products (vegetables and fruits, of course, but alsocheeses, honey, bread…)
Cultivating…their curiosity: How does it grow? How do we eat it? What does it taste like? Why is it purple, green or orange?
A host of activities: Currently, there are more than a hundred public markets in our beautiful province. Some are only open on weekends or in the summer. But others open their doors year-round. Depending on the market, there are different activities that may appeal to children, such as culinary events (sometimes even with guest chefs), tastings, seasonal celebrations (Halloween, Christmas market, spring and its flowers, etc.). find your public market and consult its website!
Funnier than a supermarket: The public market is lively and welcoming. There are lots of people, familiar smells and other more intriguing ones. Nothing to do with the sanitized (and often sad) appearance of many supermarkets. Children will prefer their experience at the market and the icing on the cake: no useless toys or trinkets at the checkout!
How to visit a public market with children?
Here are some tips and advice to help you prepare for your visit to the market with the children.
- We are curious. We try to ask the producers questions. We invite our children to speak too and to question the farmers, who will be able to teach them a lot about the products and their profession.
- We taste, we savor, we try newfood.
- We also visit craftsmen's kiosks, adopting the same curious attitude.
- The snack may not be necessary, given the tastings, but the water is. That's why we remember to bring your reusable water bottle (and bags, too).
- We take the opportunity to eat on site. At the sausage maker, at the butcher's, pastry shop or at the cheese maker, you will find small dishes that are inexpensive and always fresh.
- You can also give a small amount to older children; they will be able to choose the fruits and vegetables they will have in their lunches for the week.
