Difficulty Encountered in Locating the Inaugural "June 12: Purchase a Quebec Product" Day in Supermarkets
Revamped Take:
Hey there! Let's chat about the buzz on June 12, known affectionately as "Quebec products day." This little-noticed launch stirred up some interesting conversations, especially in the context of increased local purchasing encouraged by American tariffs.
This clever idea came from the union of Products of Quebec and Quebec Foods, with the goal of grabbing attention on social media. But, when our team checked out some Montreal grocery stores on Thursday, they found only crickets—few had heard about this new day of local love.
One grocer, Real Champagne, admitted he's a fan of Quebec goods, but he hadn't caught wind of this new initiative. He suggested a bit more pomp and circumstance, like a store circular announcement or eye-catching poster, to really spark interest.
Out of ten customers chatted up by our team, only one was in on the secret. Still, Most revealed an eagerness to support local businesses, with Emilie Beaudoin summing it up nicely: "It's fun to have an initiative like this that encourages Quebec companies."
Many customers were taken aback when they learned about this June 12 extravaganza, considering the months of buzz surrounding local purchases. One of these folks, Francine, found it a tad absurd, opining, "It's not new, it's not a day."
Fabien Durif, boss of the Observatory of Responsible Consumption at UQAM, disagrees with Francine, viewing this day as a vital tool for the local purchasing movement. He's seen this movement losing steam a few months after the introduction of the tariffs and thinks this day helps rekindle the fire.
Isabelle Roy, Quebec Foods' head honcho, isn't fretting about the lack of recognition for June 12. "It's a first edition," she says. "The important thing is that the industry gets mobilized and on board, discovers the products."
Interestingly, Ms. Roy points out that the "Quebec book day," happening on August 12, is catching on. Fabien Durif agrees, but he reminds us that it takes time for these types of movements to really take off.
He also notes that local consumption is influenced by factors like COVID-19 and inflation but is not solely driven by Quebec products during the pandemic. Instead, Canadians are branching out, favoring both local and other Canadian goods while resisting American products.
Joseph Lynn, someone spotted grocery shopping, was thrilled to learn about this new day, expressing, "It should have started much earlier. And I should have started earlier too. But better late than never."
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- Engaging in discussions about the Quebec products day on June 12 has also prompted talks about supporting local food-and-drink and home-and-garden products as a part of everyday lifestyle.
- As the local purchasing movement gains momentum, some suggest emphasizing the cultural significance of home-and-garden and food-and-drink products on occasions like "June 12, I Buy a Quebec Product" to further ignite the trend in both Montreal and other parts of Quebec.
