Replay and feedback on the panel “Producing on the island and for the island: best practices in local sourcing for daycares in Montreal”
The objective of the panel discussion on December 9, 2021 was to highlight the ongoing collaboration between Les Jardins Carya, CPE Le Jardin des Frimousses and CPE Le Sablier. The discussion focussed on the best practices to be put in place to ensure direct supply from producers, but was also an opportunity to share existing challenges, and propose possible solutions to address them.
MODERATORS
JULIE SAGE, agr., Logistics and Distribution Manager, Collectif Récolte
LOUIS LAFORTUNE, Procurement Solutions Lead, Collectif Récolte
PANELISTS
CAROLINE AREL, General Manager, CPE Le Jardin des Frimousses
JULIE MORIN, Chef and Food Manager, CPE Le Sablier
RAMZY KASSOUF, Co-owner, Director of Sales and Development, Les Jardins Carya
DOMINIQUE LACROIX, Advisor, Sustainable Food Procurement, Commun’assiette, Équiterre
THIBAULT RENOUF, Co-founder Arrivage platform
Highlights
The daycare centres (Centres de la petite enfance - CPEs) Le Jardin des Frimousses and Le Sablier began their collaboration with Les Jardins Carya just over three years ago.
THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT IS INCREASINGLY FAVOURABLE TO THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE.
Various existing programs, including the Local and Integrated Food System in Montreal (SALIM) program, the buyers’ meetings organized by the Conseil des Industries Bioalimentaires de l’Île de Montréal (CIBÎM) and the Commun’Assiette community of practice, run by Équiterre and Aliments du Québec, facilitate this kind of collaboration and support the actors in their approach. These programs are necessary, but not sufficient, and it is the deep-seated desire to do things differently that remains the primary driver behind these initiatives.
COLLABORATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SHARING SIMILAR VALUES.
Trust is essential to establishing lasting relationships.
AN IMPORTANT POINT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTRACTS.
Contracts between producers and CPEs are still rare. This lack of a contract gives CPEs flexibility, but creates a lack of visibility and increased risk for the producers. In fact, it would be desirable for producers to have a contract so that they can plan their crops and operations, and guarantee a stable supply. This aspect of the relationship deserves further study, as it could also be beneficial to CPEs (stability of demand and prices).
IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE A GOOD IT TOOL.
An IT tool, like the Arrivage platform, can now be adapted to meet the specific needs of CPE markets.
THE BENEFITS OF FARM-TO-TABLE PRODUCTS ARE OBVIOUS TO CPE FOOD MANAGERS AND CHILDREN ALIKE.
The flavour is much more pronounced, and the freshness, quality and shelf life are unparalleled. It’s very rewarding, and a powerful educational tool that children take home with them.
FOOD FRESHNESS IS A MUST.
Freshness allows the kitchen teams to reduce food waste, and to do the processing themselves to extend the availability of fresh, healthy, local produce.
FOR LES JARDINS CARYA, THIS KIND OF INITIATIVE MAKES CHILDREN AWARE OF WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT.
The connection to our natural environment and our food. We need more producers to enter this market, and all CPEs to be able to buy directly from local farms.
IN CPEs, CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND FOOD SERVICES IS ESSENTIAL.
Good annual planning enables the budget to be reconciled with the needs of the kitchen.
THE EXTRA COST IS NOT SIGNIFICANT.
Because the food is of better quality, there is less waste, which translates into a greater return on investment. One telling anecdote: carrots are of such high quality that they don’t need to be peeled, reducing waste.
A SUITABLE PROCESSING AREA IS ESSENTIAL FOR THIS KIND OF INITIATIVE.
To engage in this type of partnership, it is important to provide CPEs with the resources to have the kitchen equipment and workspace they need.
A PURCHASING POLICY ADAPTED TO SEASONALITY SOMETIMES INVOLVES COMPROMISES.
For example, making do with imported bananas and oranges in the winter to serve local berries in the summer.
A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST IS ESSENTIAL.
At the end of the day, it’s common sense and mutual trust that trumps price logic. That’s what makes these collaborations successful.
References
Thanks to our partners
Financial partners
