Andrew McClelland
The Advocate
The provincial government has announced a new envelope of $4 million to encourage Quebec consumers to buy their food directly from agricultural producers.
But if you’re an agri-business owner, act fast! Project submissions for the program are open until Oct. 31, 2024 – or until funds run out. That means the earlier you submit a proposal, the more likely you are to receive funding.
“I’m very happy with this new support, which will promote local marketing and help bring consumers even closer to those who feed us,” said Quebec Agriculture Minister André Lamontagne during the “Mise en marché de proximité et agrotourisme” announcement on May 31.
“The supported projects will make it possible to offer Quebecers even more fresh, quality products. I invite businesses and business groups from across the province to submit their projects.”
The Mise en marché de proximité et agrotourisme 2024-2026 program is designed to support local marketing and agritourism initiatives, both collective and individual (i.e. both individual producers and collective agri-businesses may apply). Producers, businesses, public institutions, co-ops and non-profit organizations can put forth a plan to shorten the supply chain between producers and consumers and bring farmers and the public closer together.
“Local marketing is an important development lever both for bio-food companies and for (rural) regions,” the government claimed in an official statement. “It makes it possible to support joint planning for the marketing of local products or to finance projects aimed at better positioning a company’s products on local markets.”
While projects like starting up a community-supported agriculture food basket program or building an on-farm kiosk are eligible, Quebec’s Proximité initiative can also fund carrying out planning, diagnostics or studies for an agri-business, designing marketing material, or simply provide money for organizational support.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, one in five agricultural businesses in the province sells directly to consumers, either in a public market, through the sale of CSA baskets or directly from the farm gate.
The Quebec government wants to increase those numbers, encouraging more non-farmers to purchase products from producers directly, or from artisanal processors existing outside the traditional distribution networks of grocery stores.
To qualify for the Proximité program, an individual or farm business must have an annual gross revenue greater than $30,000 and less than $1 million.
In response to criticism from earlier versions of the program, applicants with a current gros annual revenues of less than $30,000 are now deemed eligible if the marketing plan they submit shows that they plan to generate an annual income of at least $30,000 within 36 months of submitting their application.
Quebec also says that it has included “an increase in financial aid for projects targeting organic products as well as for those involving an emerging agricultural business.”
With local market season having just started, MNAs from across the province are stepping up their vocal support of farmers’ markets and farm gate sales.
“Summer is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to discover the best in agriculture, anywhere and nearby,” said Audrey Bogemans, MNA for Iberville. “Let yourself be surprised by the richness of the terroir and the authenticity of the producers. Everyone will benefit, even your taste buds!”
Applicants to the Proximité program should submit their applications as soon as possible, as previous provincial programs of this type have run out of funds well before the official application deadline.