The apple is constantly being reinvented, changing with the times and cultures. The Malus domestica species comes in some 7,500 varieties.
"Today, people want crisp, sweet apples. Quebec used to import a lot of Granny Smiths; they're now much less popular because they're very acidic," explains David Wees, a McGill Plant Science lecturer and Associate Director of the university's Farm Management and Technology Program.
Even though she grew up on a farm, StĂ©phanie Naud had never touched an axe or saw before studying at McGill's Mac campus. As a natural athlete who loved the outdoors and working with her hands,Ěýwhen she heard about our unique inter-university lumberjack club, she was intrigued,Ěýshe recently told Le journal de MontrĂ©al.Ěý
With fall officially here, it's time for Lennoxville, Quebec's annual Giant Pumpkin Festival, where people can see pumpkins that weigh as much as 680 kilograms.
The festival — which is taking place at the AmĂ©dĂ©e Beaudoin community centre SundayĚýfrom 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — is a family event with bouncy castles, a petting zoo, a farmers'Ěýmarket, music and even horse-drawn carriages.
Alexandre Lemire started growing giant pumpkins three years ago after being inspired by festival founder MikeĚýMacdonald's crops. Last year, his biggest pumpkin weighed 704 kilograms.
If you’ve noticed thatĚýcertain products in the grocery storeĚýtaste different from how you remember, it’s possible some of their ingredients have been swapped for cheaper alternatives.Ěý
Experts say food producers are increasingly changing the ingredients in products to cut costsĚýamid soaring food prices and labour shortages—a practice known as “skimpflation.” Could our health be at stake?
“In Quebec, it hasn't been good this year either. We lose California, there's still Florida, there's still Mexico. We hope that it goes well somewhere because we will pay for it, one day,"ĚýĎ㽶ĘÓƵ agronomist and economist Pascal ThĂ©riault told 98.5fm host Luc Ferrandez.Ěý
Quebec imports fruits, vegetables, and wine from California.
Although grocery prices continue to rise at a higher rate than inflation, they slowed in July, according to Statistics Canada, and some items are currently on the shelves at the same price as they were in February, La Presse found.
But this summer "respite" could be short-lived, warns agronomist and economistĚýPascal ThĂ©riault, Director of McGill'sĚýFarm Management and Technology program. And it's important to remember that grocery bills remain high, he says.
July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth according to the European Copernicus service and extreme heat and drought are compromising many crops in Saskatchewan.
The provincial government's latest weekly crop report shows that from July 24 to 31, moisture levels in agricultural fields were insufficient in 49% of cases, and very insufficient in 38% of cases.
Un récent rapport indique que 40 % des travailleurs agricoles partiront à la retraite d'ici 2033 et que le pays manquera de 24 000 employés d'ici là . Pascal Thériault, économiste et directeur du programme de gestion et technologies d’entreprise agricole à l’Université McGill, analyse la situation.
Les enjeux dans le domaine agroalimentaire se multiplient et se complexifient. Les programmes de formation doivent évoluer en conséquence. Coup d’œil sur ce qu’il se passe du côté des deux universités qui offrent des programmes en agronomie : l’Université Laval et l’Université McGill.
Le budget fédéral dévoilé mardi prévoit un « rabais pour l'épicerie » sous forme d'aide ponctuelle pour aider les citoyens à composer avec l'inflation. Cette mesure de 2,5 milliards de dollars, qui profitera à 11 millions de personnes, pourra atteindre 467 $ par an pour un couple avec deux enfants.
ł˘'Ă©ł¦´Ç˛Ô´Çłľľ±˛őłŮ±đ Pascal ThĂ©riault, chargĂ© de cours au dĂ©partement des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'environnement de l'universitĂ© McGill, n'est pas convaincu de l'efficacitĂ© d'une telle mesure.
Dairy processor Agropur continues to refocus its activities. After selling its interests in IĂ–GO yogurts two years ago, in December it sold a Wisconsin-based plant used to manufacture dairy and non-dairy ingredient blends. The sale price was not disclosed.
Food prices have increased by 11% in Quebec in 2022, the largest increase in Canada. In an annual report released on Monday, 26 researchers predict that the upward trend will continue into 2023, but will be less marked. Price increases in Québec in 2023 should be below the national average, around 5%.
Congrats to FMT students Diego Occhicone and Rami Sader, FMT’22, who had a successful season in their new venture, the Ferme des Paniers market garden. The pair who met at Macdonald during their studies, sell their produce through subscription baskets and at local markets.
L'Épicerie recently featured Rosemarie Allen (B.Sc.(AgEnvSc)’12) and Jacob Morin (FMT’11) of Ferme Le Paysan Gourmand in Saint-Félix-de-Kingsey who participate in an on-farm program to reduce food waste. The episode follows Meilleur Après volunteers who harvest produce that would have remained in the field. Produce harvested is then shared between the participants, the producer and Meilleur Après – who in turn redistribute the produce to organizations in the region or transform it into products that are then sold to finance operations.
Hydroponic strawberry growers and Co-founders of Vertité, Ophelia Sarakinis (FMT’19) and Phillip Rosenbaum (B.Sc.(AgEnvSc)’19, MSc.’21) and their partners have just won the first phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a “six-year, $33-million initiative from the Weston Family Foundation to future-proof food production in Canada.”
