William Crooks
From left to right: Saint-Adrien Mayor Pierre Therrien, Le Champ Bleu co-owner Émilie Windsor, Richmond MNA André Bachand, UPA Des Sources president Monia Grenier (with her grandson), and Wotton Mayor Jocelyn Dion were on hand to celebrate the official launch of Le Champ Bleu’s first season of container-grown raspberries

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

A small family farm in Saint-Adrien is making waves in Quebec’s agricultural sector with the official launch of its first season of container-grown raspberries. On July 24, La bleuetière Le Champ Bleu held a press conference and open house to unveil its new above-ground raspberry production — a method still rare in the province, and even rarer when combined with a public pick-your-own offering.

“We wanted to offer delicious raspberries while respecting our environment and our agricultural reality,” said Émilie Windsor, co-owner of the farm. “This method, we’ve adapted it to our scale, right here, in nature, in Saint-Adrien.”

The raspberries are grown in large pots under umbrella-style shelters, a setup that provides better protection against bad weather, allows for precise irrigation and fertilization, and results in high-quality fruit in controlled conditions. “When you have rocky ground like we do here, it doesn’t matter — you just place the pot on top,” Windsor explained at the event. “And in years with a lot of rain, the pots drain properly. It creates an environment where we can really reduce the number of treatments we need.”

While the farm is not yet certified organic, Windsor said they strive to use the best possible practices. “We follow the principles of organic farming. We use a natural granular fertilizer in each pot, and it’s activated with a small sprinkler.”

What makes the initiative even more unique is its openness to the public. Le Champ Bleu is now one of the only farms in Quebec to offer pick-your-own raspberries grown in containers and under rain shelters. “Usually, this type of production is geared toward distribution,” Windsor said. “We think it’s really new to offer it at a small scale, and even more so to open it up for self-picking.”

Visitors will be able to pick their own raspberries once the fruit reaches peak ripeness. “We’ll wait until the field is really, really red,” she said, “then we’ll open up time slots for autocueillette.”

According to a related press release, founded over 20 years ago by Carmen and Gérald Auger and known for its highbush blueberry fields, Le Champ Bleu has been operated since 2021 by Émilie, Edison, and their two children, Noah and Gaël. The farm already offers blueberry picking in a peaceful setting near the heart of the village and close to the Parc régional du Mont-Ham. With the addition of raspberries, it is taking a new step in sustainable, community-rooted agriculture.

Windsor emphasized the importance of local support. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of help, and we continue to receive help,” she said. She acknowledged the financial support of the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), through both the Prime-Vert program and the Initiative ministérielle: relève agricole et entrepreneuriat. Additional support came from La Financière agricole du Québec, the MRC des Sources, and the SADC des Sources.

“We’re a small farm, but now in our fifth season we feel well supported,” she said. “We’ve had help from so many local companies — contractors, tradespeople, neighbours, even friends and family. It’s amazing.”

Speaking at the event, Richmond MNA André Bachand highlighted the project’s local significance. “We’re very proud that something this unique is happening right here in Saint-Adrien,” he said. “This is practically in the heart of the village, and it’s bringing agriculture closer to people. That’s how you raise awareness about food production.”

Bachand praised the innovation and commitment of the farm and admitted he was eager to try the fruit. “Raspberries are my favourite,” he said with a smile. “And this—this is a raspberry!”

After the speeches, attendees toured the growing installations and sampled the first raspberries of the season — fresh, juicy, and grown with care.

As Windsor put it, “I feel very lucky to be doing this project here in Saint-Adrien, with the support we have.”