Eco-Responsible

Our lettuce is “green”

As a company in the field of agriculture, we depend on the nature and its virtues. It is therefore important for us to take care of it. Here are our commitments thereof:

2012-09-13 15.27.161- Transport optimization.

Proximity to customers: Our activities are concentrated on the Canadian and American East Coast. With this strategy, we optimize delivery routes and reduce the energy footprint caused by transporting goods.

Packing plant in the center of the fields: our packing plants are located in the heart of our fields. Thus, we save many kilometers in order to transport the freshly harvested vegetables up to our packing plants.

2- Agricultural practices.

Crop rotation: An important part of maintaining soil fertility, crop rotation (alternating various crops on the same land) allows us to reduce the use of chemical treatments and avoid land depletion.

2011-11-24 10.54.24Self-seeding: Self-seeding can control weeds while minimizing the use of herbicides. After preparing the fields, we let the weeds germinate for a few days. Then we destroy them with controlled products in minimum quantity. After this process we sow our lettuces and we reduce the herbicide treatments to the maximum.

Integrated Pesticide Management: Our agronomists are constantly visiting our fields to detect any problems (insects and diseases). Thus we use localized curative treatment only when we cannot do otherwise.

Fall Grains: Barley is used to make a good cover crop at the end of the season. Planted early in the fall, after the lettuce crops, it will produce enough biomass to increase the soil organic matter. In addition, barley fights against soil erosion by wind and rain throughout the winter thanks to its root system.

Use of track tractors: The muck soil is light and very sensitive to soil compaction. That is why our tractors are equipped with tracks instead of wheels. The tracks avoid degradation by spreading the weight over a larger area.

Using Water Wisely: Our water is tested every month to certify its microbiological quality. The quantity of water used in the fields is limited to the strict minimum. Irrigation is mainly used for vegetable germination. The muck soil, rich in organic matter, has the capacity to hold large volumes of water.

3- Composting and recycling.

Arc_img17Paper and cardboard: Our non-waxed cardboard is compacted and fully recycled. But we also use waxed cardboard. These cannot be recycled by the usual circuit; we work in partnership with a manufacturer of granules and ecological logs that recycles all waxed cardboard.

Plastic: Our salad trays are 100% recyclable. In addition, we have a special shredder to recycle all plastics used in our packing plants.

Compost: The lettuces that are not packed are routinely composted. This compost, rich in nutrients, is then used to enrich and fertilize our land.