Metro Inc. instituted a Local Purchasing Policy in May 2013, including a guiding principle designed to increase the presence and visibility of regional products in its stores. The company is currently running a pilot project for regional products, which has already resulted in several new agreements with local suppliers, including Les Serres René Fontaine and Les Serres Lefort.

As a result of a pilot project carried out in two Les 5 Saisons grocery stores, Metro agreed to buy over 14,000 kilos of La Frissonnante greenhouse strawberries from Les Serres René Fontaine, projected to be in stores by mid-October. The strawberries are grown without pesticides or fungicides in a greenhouse located in Drummondville. The strawberry greenhouse space will reach 1 hectare in March 2015 and produce 70 tonnes annually.

In a press release, Bernadette Hamel, vice president, national procurement-produce, for Metro commented, “We are very excited at the idea of extending the offer of La Frissonnante strawberries this spring and of contributing to the economic growth of local farmers. This decision highlights the efforts made by Metro, particularly within the framework of our Local Purchasing Policy, as well as our concrete impact on the development of the local agri-food sector.”

Metro will also be offering VÔG BIO brand Japanese turnips, cucumbers and red peppers from Les Serres Lefort. These new certified organic products are grown in Sainte-Clotilde-de-Châteauguay and carry Aliments du Québec BIO (ORGANIC) and Québec Vrai certifications.

Noting that recent research shows almost 50 percent of Canadians have bought organic food at some point, Metro spokesperson Geneviève Grégoire said, “We are always looking for varied and differentiated products whose freshness, quality, availability and value meet our clientele’s expectations. Local organic produce is one example.”

Another program in the spirit of Metro’s Local Purchasing Policy will be on display this summer, when the company partners for the third time with the Équiterre Family Farmers Network. Nineteen stores — 18 Metro and one Super C — will serve as drop-off points for baskets of fresh vegetables that are either certified organic or in the process of becoming so.

The partnership allows agricultural producer members of Équiterre to use the parking lots of Metro stores to deliver pre-paid baskets to their clients. According to Grégoire, the program is growing every year, with five more stores participating this past year.

Metro’s next phase of implementing the new policy will be to extend it to Ontario.