Metro's organic basket program expands to 32 stores

For shoppers who find it difficult to seek out local produce, Metro is bringing organic vegetables to them in the form of organic baskets.

Last Monday, Metro announced its organic basket distribution program now extends to thirty-one Metro Stores and one Super C store across Quebec–over double the number of stores involved two years ago.

Now in its fourth year, Metro is working with environmental group Équiterre Family Farmers Network to help distribute the baskets.

Customers interested in the program must register with the producers in order to receive their basket each week of the season. They can pick the produce up from the parking lot of a participating Metro stores in the area. The content of the basket depends on what items are in season.

Participating farms, such a Clé des Champs de St-Camille (pictured) have different subscribers who come and pick up their weekly basket at a Metro parking lot.

According to a Metro spokesperson, there are a varying number of subscribers for each farmer. While one participating farm has 168 subscribers, others have around 20.

The partnership is in line with the Local Purchasing Policy Metro introduced in 2013. The initiative aims to support Quebec suppliers by linking the consumer to a regional farmer.

Équiterre piloted the organic food basket project in 1995. There’s now more than 100 members in its network of family farms, who supply organic food to 40,000 people a week through 500 drop-off points.