6 Ways to Discover Local Products All Year Long

On June 12, J’achète un produit québécois! invites us to take a simple action: choose a local product. Beyond a one-time purchase, this day can become an opportunity to reflect on our habits and on our connection with local artisans and businesses.

Here are 6 simple ways to discover and incorporate Québec-made products into your daily life on June 12 — and throughout the rest of the year.

1. Learn How to Identify Local Products
One of the first habits to develop is taking the time to check where the products we buy come from.

At the grocery store, in boutiques, at markets, or even online, certain logos can help guide us. Labels such as Aliments du Québec, Aliments préparés au Québec, Produit du Québec, Fabriqué au Québec, or Conçu au Québec make it easier to recognize products that showcase local expertise and craftsmanship.

It’s a simple way to avoid assumptions and better understand what we’re putting in our shopping carts.

2. Visit Public Markets and Farm Stands
Public markets, farm stands, pick-your-own farms, and farm baskets are excellent ways to discover Québec products.

You’ll find fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, bread, processed foods, and many other local products. It’s also a great way to better understand seasonality. We quickly realize that available products change from week to week, depending on harvests and regions. Buying local then becomes a meaningful way to reconnect with the rhythm of the seasons.

3. Attend Agricultural, Food, or Gourmet Events
Throughout the year, many events provide opportunities to discover local products and meet the people who create them.

These include gourmet fairs, harvest festivals, seasonal markets, tastings, and regional events that showcase the work of producers and artisans.

The Open Farm Day organized by the Union des producteurs agricoles takes place every September and offers visitors an immersive experience at participating farms across Québec.

4. Explore Regional Routes and Circuits
Québec is full of gourmet routes, agritourism circuits, and regional trails that allow people to discover local products in a different way.

Wine routes, Circuits du paysan, flavor trails, vineyard tours, cider houses, sugar shacks, farms, and honey houses are just a few examples of the many possibilities available.

These outings turn buying local into a discovery experience rather than just another grocery list.

5. Replace One Product at a Time in Your Habits
Buying Québec-made products can seem intimidating if we think we need to change everything all at once. A much simpler approach is to replace one product at a time.

You can start with something you buy regularly: jam, flour, cheese, soap, herbal tea, household products, or seasonal vegetables, for example.

The idea is simply to develop new habits gradually.

6. Give Québec-Made Gifts
Gifts can be a natural gateway to discovering Québec brands.

Local products offer a wide variety of options: processed foods, terroir products, books, handmade items, body care products, regional experiences, and much more.

It’s also a wonderful way to extend the impact of buying local. Someone who receives a Québec product as a gift may, in turn, discover a business they’ll want to support again in the future.

The J’achète un produit québécois day is a great opportunity to take meaningful action, but it can also become the starting point for a broader reflection on our consumption habits

On June 12, why not start with one simple gesture?