Jean-Luc Baril: potatoes for the North
Direct sales to your customers may always be a good strategy, especially when you are a produce farmer. But what if you don t farm in the suburbs? What if you farm in an isolated, northern and sparsely populated region?
Jean-Luc Baril created his own solution. First, Baril says, get everyone on your side. Then ask local supermarkets to sell local products first.
If it sounds like dreaming, the results are very real. Today, Baril s potatoes are sold in every supermarket in Abitibi-Tmiscamingue, the northern frontier of Quebec s agriculture, forestry and mining industries.
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That s a complete reversal from three years ago. Then, some of Baril s potatoes would find their way into local supermarkets, but only after they made a 1,350-km round trip to Montreal s supermarket chain warehouses and back.
With help from neighbouring farmers, Baril started his campaign by making politicians and journalists aware of how ridiculous that round trip really was.
Media reports are what made the difference, Baril now says. How could supermarket executives face the public and justify importing potatoes when they are grown next door?
Baril finally got the phone call that changed the fate of his business. The following week, he was supplying just about all supermarkets in Abitibi-Tmiscamingue. He now delivers twice a week on
