Extend the summer with local Quebec's strawberries and raspberries!

MONTREAL, Sept. 7, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Quebec's strawberry and raspberry producers are launching a new event, La Prolongation, to extend the summer. The objective: celebrate the fall harvest of local berries, which has doubled in the last decade. For the occasion, 60 renowned chefs from everywhere in Quebec will put berries forward on their restaurant's menu until October 5th, as well as share their recipes on laprolongation.com. 

ABEILLE GÉLINAS: LOVER OF BERRIES 
"What's better than our autumn berries, vibrant colours and fresh taste to transcend life's sweetness. I often see amazing chefs using these delicious berries in their cuisine. Being myself an adept of local flavours, I am thrilled by La Prolongation, an event that will dazzle your eyes and taste buds," exclaims the spokesperson, DJ Abeille Gélinas.

Laurent Godbout, Guillaume Cantin, Patrice Demers, Derek Dammann, Jérome Ferrer, Anne Desjardins, Martin Juneau, Marc-André Royal, Kimberly Lallouz, and many more chefs share their favourite recipes. Beyond traditional desserts, some chefs compete with audacity, such as Jean-François Méthot of the bistro Le Coureur des Bois in Beloeil with his fall strawberry soup with white Farnham and white chocolate quenelle or Sébastien Houle of sEb l'Artisan Culinaire in Tremblant with his Îles de la Madeleine scallops carpaccio and Quebec strawberries salsa with yuzu and Espelette pepper. 

QUEBEC STRAWBERRIES UNTIL NOVEMBER!
"Today, thanks to the innovations of Quebec producers, 190 of them grow different varieties of tasty strawberries, such as the Seascape, Albion, Monterrey, San Andreas and the Pathfinder raspberry. The quality of these fruits is exceptional and the prices are also very attractive for consumers", explains David Lemire, producer of Mauricie strawberries and President of the Association of Quebec Producers of Strawberries and Raspberries (APFFQ).

SPECIALS IN GROCERIES
Through the hashtag #laprolongation, foodies and chefs are invited to share their meal photos. Also, to incite more consumers to reproduce the chefs' recipes, the main grocery stores – IGA, Metro and Provigo/Loblaw – will offer specials on the strawberries, which will be available until the first frosts in all of their grocery stores.  As well, Les Produits d'érable du Québec, in collaboration with the APFFQ, will offer contests throughout the month. 

Organized in collaboration with People Mover Technologies, the team behind La Poutine Week and Le Burger Week, the first edition of La Prolongation will be rich in culinary discoveries. Quebec's berry producers want to thank their main partner, Les Produits d'érable du Québec, as well as l'Union des producteurs agricoles, PUR Vodka, Aliments du Québec, Sobeys, Metro, Provigo/Loblaw and tonresto.ca.

ABOUT APFFQ AND THE BRAND LES FRAÎCHES DU QUÉBEC
Most important producer of strawberries in Canada and the third largest player in North America, Quebec counts more than 600 businesses combined under the Association of Quebec Producers of Strawberries and Raspberries. Whether in the grocery stores, in farm kiosks or picking your own, the brand Les Fraîches du Québec identifies and unites the strawberries and raspberries producers who cultivate the land to offer gourmet berries with a fresh and exceptional taste!  

SOURCE Association des producteurs de fraises et framboises du Québec

Yourianne Plante, General Manager, Cellphone: 514 661-4062 - Email: [email protected]; Interviews, statistics, photos and products available upon request.