A Taste of Spring at Marché Fermier Laurier

There’s something about the first real market day of spring that hits differently. The air smells like possibility, the tables are bursting with color, and conversations are warmer. Maybe because we’ve all made it through another Quebec winter.

On a recent visit to Marché Fermier Laurier, I felt that shift, that seasonal click, and found myself walking away with more than just groceries. I left with a small feast and a deeper appreciation for the people behind it.

Laurier Farmer’s Market, Laurier Street near the Metro.

Let me tell you about my bounty: fresh organic asparagus from Domaine du Petit St-Joseph, ready-to-go comfort meal-kits from DuNord, and a golden, homemade-style apple pie by Artisan du Terroir. Individually, each item is a reflection of care, land, and local know-how. Together, they tell a story of terroir, simplicity, and the small joys of seasonal eating.

The Market Itself: Where Neighbourhood Meets Nature

Marché Fermier Laurier sits at the heart of the Plateau, a pocket of rural rhythm in the middle of the city. There’s a kind of intimacy to this market because it’s small enough to know your vendors by name, but big enough to surprise you. You’ll hear French, English, and the universal language of "mmm, goûte ça."

It’s not just about shopping; it’s about reconnecting. With the land, with your neighbours, and with that slower pace that lets you think about what you’re actually putting on your plate.

Domaine du Petit St-Joseph: Organic Asparagus That Tastes Like Spring

The first thing that I was on my list was asparagus from Domaine du Petit St-Joseph, A small-scale farm I’ve visited before in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac. When you know the field something grows in, the food tastes different.

These weren’t your average grocery store stalks. These were plump, snappy, and carried that grassy perfume that only comes from being cut that morning. You could taste the goodness, the sunshine. I steamed them that evening and drizzled with olive oil and sea salt, and they barely needed anything else. That’s how I like my food, as close as possible to nature!

Spring in Quebec is short. Blink, and the asparagus season is gone. That makes each spear feel like a little miracle. Domaine du Petit St-Joseph treats that season with respect, harvesting carefully and delivering their bounty to markets with intention.

And beyond the produce? There's a person behind it. I thought of Gilles, the face of the farm, and how he once told me: “On fait pousser des souvenirs autant que des légumes.” (“We grow memories as much as we grow vegetables.”) He’s right.

DuNord: Nourishing Convenience Done Right

Beside the produce stand, something caught my eye: beautifully packaged meal kits by DuNord. I’ll admit I’m usually skeptical of anything labeled “convenient” but DuNord is doing something completely different.

Each of their kits is a celebration of local ingredients, elevated through thoughtful cooking. I picked up two: the daal boréal and the couscous des rapides.

The daal boréal is a lentil stew made with coconut milk, kale, and a spice blend featuring green alder pepper harvested from Quebec’s boreal forest. It’s warm, aromatic, and slightly creamy. It’s a dish that wraps around you like a blanket. It also manages to feel both familiar and surprising, like traditional daal reimagined through a northern lens.

The couscous des rapides is lighter, vibrant with pumpkin seeds, cranberries, carrots, and Quebec-grown sea buckthorn. It has a burst of acidity and color that made it feel almost like sunshine on a plate. Both meals are vegan, gluten-free, and easy to prepare in under ten minutes. I had easily four portions from each bag!

What I love about DuNord is that their kits don’t feel like shortcuts but more like a collaborations with the land. They’re meals that respect where the ingredients come from, and who grew them. It’s the kind of convenience I can fully get behind.

Artisan du Terroir: A Pie That Tastes Like Home

I was just about to head out when I saw it: a perfectly golden apple pie sitting on a vendor table like it was waiting for me. The label read Artisan du Terroir, and something about it felt right.

There’s nothing pretentious about this pie. The crust is slightly uneven, the apple slices thick, the sugar on top just lightly caramelized. It looks and tastes like it came from a grandmother’s kitchen. That’s because Artisan du Terroir works with traditional recipes, using Quebec-grown apples and ingredients you can pronounce.

Back at home, I sliced into it after dinner. The filling was tangy and soft, not cloying. The crust held its shape and had that perfect buttery snap. And just like that, I was eight years old again, tasting my very first apple pie.

That’s the magic of good baking. It takes you somewhere, even if the ingredients only came from just down the road.

A Simple Meal, a Rich Experience

That night, I laid everything out: the steamed asparagus, the DuNord kits, and a slice (okay, two slices) of pie. It wasn’t a fancy dinner, but it was one of the most satisfying meals I’ve had in a while. Not just because of the taste, but because I could name where each element came from. I could picture the people behind them.

Eating this way is about more than health or sustainability, it’s about being present. About slowing down enough to notice the season in your food. About remembering that someone planted that seed, stirred that pot, rolled that crust.

It’s easy to get swept up in the idea that “local food” has to mean expensive, or rustic, or time-consuming. But what I’ve found is that it’s really about intention. Whether it’s a spear of asparagus, a bowl of couscous, or a slice of pie, local food tastes better because it connects us. To our region, to our farmers, and to ourselves.

Why This Matters

Supporting places like Marché Fermier Laurier and producers like Domaine du Petit St-Joseph, DuNord, and Artisan du Terroir isn't just about economics, it’s cultural. It’s about keeping Quebec’s food identity alive, and making sure that the knowledge of our land doesn’t get lost to convenience culture.

These are the kinds of products that could only be made here, shaped by our climate, our forests, and our culinary traditions. And they deserve a place not just in our kitchens, but in our conversations.

The beauty of this experience is that anyone can have it. All it takes is curiosity, a little appetite, and the willingness to let the seasons guide you.

Final Thoughts: Eat What’s Around You

If you’re looking for an easy way to reconnect with your food, your region, and maybe even your neighbours, go to a farm or market. Skip the list. Ask a question. Taste something unfamiliar. Trust your instincts.

You’ll be amazed at what you find when you let your plate be a reflection of where you are.

For me, this spring day at Marché Fermier Laurier brought home more than just groceries. It reminded me why I care so much about Quebec’s terroir, and why I’ll keep telling these stories.

Bon appétit, et bon printemps 🌱

🧺 Highlights from the Market

• Domaine du Petit St-Joseph – Fresh organic asparagus, harvested with care in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac

• DuNord – Daal Boréal & Couscous des Rapides meal kits, with local surplus from farms and foraged ingredients

• Artisan du Terroir – Handcrafted apple pie with Quebec apples