Click here to view the original article

As grocery bills continue to soar, Corbeille de Pain is helping ensure that the nutritional needs of West Islanders are met by providing affordable, healthy choices to communities throughout the West Island.

Since opening in 2019 in À-Ma-Baie Park in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Corbeille's solidarity markets have expanded to more neighbourhoods in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, and Dorval, providing an array of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as healthy groceries to citizens in underserved areas.

The produce sold at the markets is sourced from local farms within 30 to 50 kilometres and is grown using organic methods that are both eco-friendly and low in emissions. The produce is purchased at a fair price from suppliers, and the prices set by the markets only cover operating costs. Funding comes from provincial and federal sources, as well as from the cities of Pointe-Claire and Dorval and the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough, in addition to support through a partnership with the city of Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

These markets stand out not only because they make nutritious food more accessible to people in vulnerable situations, but also because of their "pay what you can" pricing model, which offers customers the flexibility to pay based on their own financial situation. 

Describing the system as having "an option that works for everybody," Amanda Ventrudo, Corbeille's Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator, explained that customers have the option to pay the advertised price or opt to pay a percentage of the bill. This is offset by others who choose to round up their final tally and those who pay it forward or make a donation to cover the cost for the next person and help fund the initiative.

Another option is to pay with the Carte Proximité, offered in partnership with Carrefour Solidaire. This prepaid card is part of a food voucher program supporting local programs from July to October and allows users to buy food from vendors who commit to sourcing products directly from local farms. The card is distributed for free to households experiencing food insecurity by local agencies such as West Island Mission, West Island Assistance Fund, Le Parados, or Corbeille de Pain. Over 180 have been distributed through Corbeille across all of its solidarity market locations.

A visit to the market at the Bob-Birnie Arena showed that high-quality food could be had at a very low cost. With prices often beating weekly specials at the local grocery, a beautiful array of fresh produce was on display, including different types of tomatoes and cucumbers, beets, leafy greens, eggplant, and green onions, with options changing weekly depending on local harvests.

In addition to fresh foods, the market also sells pantry goods such as sugar, couscous, lentils, and locally produced honey and jam, along with staples such as bread and eggs.

Ventrudo describes Corbeille de Pain's Solidarity Markets as a way of promoting the local economy by supporting local farmers while "bringing food into markets where there isn't as much organic, high-quality food."

In addition to its Solidarity Markets, Corbeille also offers several other food-related programs, such as a community garden program consisting of weekly visits by its coordinators to different community gardens in the West Island, providing free seeds, soil, and equipment, and giving garden management tips throughout the summer. Its Fruits Défendus initiative links fruit tree owners with volunteer pickers to ensure that local food resources are not wasted, with picked fruit divided between the owner, volunteers, and Corbeille de Pain. 

Another of Corbeille's offerings is its community kitchen workshop program. Offered throughout the year, these workshops not only teach cooking skills and techniques but also provide tips on maximizing grocery savings and focusing on in-season produce and cost-effective proteins. Together, these programs help improve food security for vulnerable populations throughout the West Island.

For more information about Corbeille de Pain, including a schedule of its Solidarity Markets and other programs, please visit corbeilledepain.com.