From Quebec’s earth comes a dirty little secret – some of the delicious fruits and vegetables proudly displaying a fleur-de-lis aren’t, in fact, grown in la belle province.
Berries, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli and more, all seem homegrown, but are actually produced in Ontario or the U.S.
Shopper France Bisson said she has seen corn touted as local, but shen she asked questions, found out that wasn’t true.
“It came from Onatrio,” she said.
Wholesaler Jules Trottier said he’s seen plenty of misleading produce.
“They put in big letter the name of a Quebec company to make it look like it was grown here, but inside, in tiny print, it says ‘picked in the U.S.,” he said.
Some farmers say that’s stealing from the local economy.
“We have to live,” said one farmer. “We start from generation to generation and it's not easy being a farmer”
What to do if you’re seeking local produce? Be vigilant. Don’t simply check labels -- and ask questions.
