NASGA  Summer Tour 2010

The North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) will be hosting its  annual summer tour out of Montreal, Quebec.  Two days of farm tours and market  visits are planned for August 17th and 18th.

Join farmers and agribusiness from across the United States and Canada as they visit innovative and successful growers and marketers as wells as some very popular public markets.

Day One

Montreal Central Produce Market.  We will depart early and visit this bustling market.  Growers bring their berries to this market and sales to buyers such as grocery stores occur all night.  We will be treated to breakfast at the market.

Fraisebec, Ste-Anne-des-Plaines.  Fraisebec is the largest strawberry grower in Canada and we will see large day neutral strawberry production under different management systems as well as raspberry production under high tunnels.

D & M Sauriol, Laval.  Michel is the president of the growers association and will discuss the branding project launched by the Quebec growers.  We will also see a very nice farm market along with production of strawberries and a variety of other crops.

Jean Talon Market, Montreal.  This  market is the largest of the public markets in Montreal.  Growers sell directly to the public at this market and the market features not only fruits and vegetables but flowers, meats and other fine foods.

Participants will return to the hotel for the evening where they are free to walk to area restaurants and night spots.

Day Two

Alain Masse’ Nursery, St. Cesaire.  This nursery grows plants for both the northeast as well as the southern market.  We will get to see this production and be able to discuss what varieties are the hottest with growers in many regions.

Cidrerie Michel Jodoin, Rougemont.  This operation creates a number of cider products derived from apples including traditional cider, ice wine and a variety of spirits.  Since its humble beginnings in the late 80’s they now produce over 100,000 bottles annually.  This area has a long history of apple production and is one of the most innovative areas in Quebec.

Novafruit.  St-Paul-d'Abbotsford.  Simon Parent is the current NASGA president and he will discuss his plug production systems.  Simon is also actively involved in developing new and innovative production systems and has many of these new systems on the farm as demonstrations for us to observe.  Testing of some of the European growing systems will be part of these demonstrations.

For lunch we will visit a traditional sugar shack.  Quebec is the largest producer of maple syrup in North America. 

Machinery and Specialized Equipment Display – Strawberry growers will have an opportunity to see some of the newest equipment and machinery developed for new and traditional production systems.

Potager Gauvin, Ange-Gardien.  This garden market boasts 10 acres of tunnel production with a variety of fruits and vegetables both under tunnel and in traditional outside production.

For more information visit www.nasga.org or contact Kevin Schooley at info@nasga.org or 613-258-4587

Reservation can be made at the Intercontinental Hotel Montreal
360, rue Saint-Antoine Ouest
Montréal, QC H2Y 3X4 Canada

Block code UX1

HOTEL 1-800-361-3600 FAX  514-847-8730

Please let the hotel know you are with the North American Strawberry Growers Association to get the preferred rate of $139.00 a night.
Parking is available for $22.00 per day

Summer Tour Sponsors:

Please thank our summer tour sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors: