Your trip to the maritime regions of Québec would not be complete without immersing yourself in local culinary traditions. Whether you visit Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord or the Îles de la Madeleine, you’ll want to stop at local farmers markets (called marchés publiques, or public markets, in Québec), so you can discover local flavours, enjoy authentic foodie experiences and meet the food artisans who embody the heart and soul of their communities!

The backdrop to many of your adventures in Eastern Québec, the St. Lawrence is in great part what makes this destination so captivating. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of this waterway and feel invigorated as you breathe in the salty sea air in our regions. You’ll also be enchanted by the inland areas of Bas-Saint-Laurent and the Gaspé Peninsula as well as the more northern parts of Côte-Nord, which are covered in fields, forests and mountains. As you immerse yourself in the splendours of our regions, you’ll want to slow down and take it all in.

While driving through the spectacular landscapes of Eastern Québec, you’ll have many opportunities to discover the towns and villages that dot the shores of the St. Lawrence and are nestled inland along valleys. There’s no doubt that you’ll be enchanted by these communities that will also capture your heart!

Fun and authentic foodie experiences

If you’re interested in meeting the locals, listening to their charming accents, getting a feel for their communities and sharing moments in their day-to-day lives, then visiting farmers markets is a must!

Farmers markets allow residents and visitors to come together to stock up on freshness and flavours while connecting with local food producers, market gardeners and artisans, who are also the ones who make the finest jams, marinades, pies, deli meats, spirits and cheeses in the area! And of course, these vibrant destinations are where you’ll find the freshest and tastiest seasonal vegetables, berries, forest products and more.

Markets as gathering places

There was a time when almost everyone in Québec would attend Sunday Mass, and afterwards, people would stand around and catch up with their neighbours. Today, church as a gathering place has been replaced by other sites, including farmers markets.

On market mornings, you’ll find volunteers setting up stalls to welcome the merchants with their fresh and colourful offerings that reveal the bounty of the land and of the St. Lawrence. Rain or shine, they take pride in providing their communities and visitors with small gourmet destinations where, in a single location, you can discover the many flavours of that area. And because farmers markets bring together so many food producers and artisans in one place, you’ll be able to enjoy a multitude of gustatory experiences in the same location.

Farmers markets are a living sign of committed communities that are proud to showcase their culinary identity and share it with you through rich, human encounters. These are extraordinary places to meet and chat with those who are create the culinary identities of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord and the Îles de la Madeleine with passion, pride and know-how. In farmers markets, you can get a taste of local stories along with local products. What better way to deepen your foodie experiences than by visiting these festive venues?

Picnics, feasts and souvenirs…

Whether you’re staying in a hotel, renting a cottage or apartment or camping in the maritime regions of Québec, farmers markets are great places to stock up on food items for a picnic along the St. Lawrence, ingredients for a feast during your vacation or even tasty souvenirs to take home with you to remind you of the time you spent in this fabulous place. Some farmers markets also offer takeout dishes made with care or meals you can eat on site.

When are farmers markets open?

Most farmers markets are open throughout the harvest season, which generally runs from June to October. Since many of the items on offer are seasonal, you can keep coming back to discover new things every week!

Where are the farmers markets in our regions?

As you travel along the St. Lawrence Estuary in Bas-Saint-Laurent from La Pocatière to Sainte-Luce, you’ll come across seven friendly farmers markets where you can stop and enjoy authentic foodie experiences:

• Grande-Anse public market (La Pocatière): late June to late September, every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Kamouraska public market: late June to early September, every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saint-Pascal Expo market: early June to early November, every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Lafontaine public market (Rivière-du-Loup): mid-June to mid-October, every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Basques public market (Trois-Pistoles): mid-June to mid-October, every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Rimouski public market: late May to late October, every Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer public market: late June to early September, every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you take short detours inland, you’ll find two more markets in Bas-Saint-Laurent:

• Témiscouata Desjardins gourmand market (Dégelis): early July to mid-September, every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Hauts-Plateaux public market (Saint-Gabriel-de-Rimouski): late June to late September, every Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you continue driving along the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in Gaspésie, you’ll find another seven equally appealing farmers markets:

• La Mitis public market (Sainte-Flavie): early June to early October, every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• La Matanie public market (Matane): mid-July to late September, every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Matapédien public market (Amqui): late June to late September, every Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Cap-Chat public market: late June to late September, every Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Gaspé public markets: early July to early October, every Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• New Richmond public market: early July to early September, every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Carleton-sur-Mer public market: early October (during the Festival La Virée Trad), Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the other north shore of the St. Lawrence, you can visit these four smaller farmers markets in Côte-Nord:

• Havre-Saint-Pierre public market: early July to early October, every other Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Desjardins public market (Baie-Comeau): mid-July to early September, every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tadoussac market: late June to early October, every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sept-Îles public market: early July to late September, every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Finally, don’t miss the only farmers market in the Îles de la Madeleine:

• Village market (Cap-aux-Meules): early July to early October, every other Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Enjoy discovering farmers markets during your trip in Eastern Québec and connecting with the food, the land and the people in our regions!

For more information, consult AMPQ website. (If you allow this site to access your location once you’re in our regions, it will pinpoint the markets near you on a map.)