At tomaté!, farming is a family story—one that’s been rooted for nine generations. Long before our modern greenhouses took shape, there was already a passion passed down from hand to hand, heart to heart: the passion to grow what’s good, real, and flavourful.
When we think about passing things down in agriculture, we often picture family land, know-how, seasonal labour, and tradition—but rarely do we see what’s really going on behind the scenes. What we often miss is the resilience it takes, the vision it demands, and the ongoing battle against preconceived ideas about farming.
Today’s farmers face a double challenge: producing locally in a demanding environment, all while constantly pushing back against lingering stereotypes.
1. They’re criticized for supposedly “exorbitant” prices
without consideration for real production costs—energy, labour, and greenhouse upkeep.
2. People assume their crops are “all exported”
or that “processing is more profitable”, ignoring the daily fight to move fresh produce through short, local supply chains.
3. They’re accused of receiving “excessive subsidies”
that barely cover their often-precarious margins.
4. And they’ve imagined living “luxurious lives”
when in truth, most reinvest in essential—and often financed—equipment, year after year.
In response to these misconceptions, tomaté! has made bold choices, challenged the status quo, and never stopped innovation.
1. We chose to focus on a single crop:
greenhouse tomatoes but not just any tomatoes. We set out to restore the tomato’s rightful place in the local diet by creating the mamas : heirloom-style tomatoes with unbeatable flavour, grown with care and integrity.
2. We chose our tools wisely in the daily battle against pests.
That means relying on common sense: prioritizing prevention and limiting chemical inputs in the name of ecology and overall health. For example, we use integrated pest management by introducing natural predators (tiny wasps!) to control destructive insects—reducing or avoiding pesticides.
This wasn’t the easy route. It comes with risks, uncertainties, and technical challenges. But for us, farming means commitment. It means believing that food can be fair, local, and exceptional.
Today, tomaté ! is far more than greenhouses bursting with colourful fruit. It’s a human-scale company rooted in Quebec—one that has grown without losing its soul.
Our legacy is built on a blend of discipline, living passion, and continuous innovation. We’re proud to be part of Quebec’s broader family of farmers, united by taste and pride in doing things right. Here and now, every tomato tells a story—one of our roots and our future.
