Serres Sagami was one of the recipients to receive the 2014 Vendor Development Partnership Award from Loblaw. The company, a grower of greenhouse tomatoes with over nine hectares across Québec, was recognized for its leadership within the produce industry for food safety, quality, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development efforts. The award was presented at Loblaw’s annual assembly of local Québec growers held in Montréal.

Serres Sagami has been a premium partner of Loblaw for 10 years and is a proud grower of the highest quality greenhouse tomatoes. The company has been in the business for 20 years and grows a wide variety of high-quality traditional tomatoes, as well as organic tomatoes, under the Biologico brand in the Laurentides, Montérégie and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regions.

“We are proud of the relationships we have built with Québec farmers, and this annual event gives us the opportunity to review our business results, discuss industry trends that impact the local growing community and engage in strategic planning for the coming season,” said Jean-François Delorme, senior category manager of Loblaw in a press statement. “And, more importantly to recognize local growers like Serres Sagami, who allow us to offer our customers an unmatched fresh offering.”

“Working closely with Loblaw in Québec has allowed our organization to reach this performance goal and win this prestigious award that my team and I are really proud of,” stated Stéphane Roy, president of Serres Sagami, after receiving the award. “We will continue our efforts rigorously and with great determination in the coming years to maintain this high-quality relationship with Loblaw and Provigo,” he added.

Provigo has always taken pride in working with local farmers and producers, helping them grow their businesses and contribution to the growth of local economies. Provigo enjoys long-standing deep relationships with a wide assortment of Québec suppliers, and is proud to continue its tradition and commitment to buy locally. Provigo is a member of the Loblaw group, one of the larger private sector employers in Québec and Canada.

Serres Sagami tomatoes can be purchased at Provigo, Maxi, Maxi & Cieand and Loblaws stores in Québec, as well as in participating stores in the Maritimes and Ontario. Serres Sagami has been selling different varieties of tomatoes for nearly 20 years in the Québec and Canadian markets under the Sagami brand.

In the spring of 2011, it added organic tomatoes to its product offering under the Biologico brand. The company will begin offering new reusable bags that are unique on the market for Sagami and Biologico tomatoes. The bags, made in Québec of 100 percent Canadian materials to meet the company’s sustainable development values, will allow consumers to better identify the products and provide longer shelf life.