This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Paused for two years, the events Take the field! resume. Given Quebecers’ interest in agritourism, the locavore nutritionist facilitates rich encounters and designs outdoor meals to celebrate local food.
Meetings to change the world
At the base, the events Take the field! are farm visits in small groups that guarantee a quality encounter with the farmer, farmer or artisan. “I have long been interested in local agriculture in Quebec,” says Julie Aubé. Often people tell me: “I went to visit a farm, I was able to try several products, but I couldn’t talk to the farmer, he was busy and I couldn’t talk to him.” This is exactly why she designed these meetings, arranged in advance with the farmers, to ensure that everyone can see each other and discuss.
It is therefore with joy that she is relaunching the events Take the field!. Throughout the year, in different regions of Quebec, several activities are planned.
“These are meetings between the eater and the producer so that everyone talks to each other, so that it makes us evolve towards a more sustainable and fair food system for all,” she explains.
It is also a great privilege to spend time with farmers in the height of the season. Many of them do not offer guided tours, since they are too busy in the field. “It’s a way to learn about the world of agriculture and to live experiences on the farm to associate landscapes and stories with food,” she adds.
A thousand and one ways to take the field
Depending on the event, the meal can be served as a box lunch, a farmer’s buffet or a gourmet meal with a guest chef. “The events are all different from each other, but we always eat, that’s part of the fun,” she exclaims.
Among the upcoming events, let’s note the one on Sunday, July 24, during which she invites eaters from Bas-Saint-Laurent to follow in the footsteps of wheat at the Du pain… c’est tout! and at the Pruchière Farm. The activity includes a visit to a seigniorial mill still in operation. Later this summer, on August 27, it’s an opportunity to discover the hardy pig farming at Ferme Selby, in the Eastern Townships. On the menu: 100% local farm tacos prepared by chef Jay Gladue, with ingredients sourced from surrounding farms.