Published on November 20, 2025
3 Reasons to Choose Local Meat
It’s no secret: Quebecers love buying local fruits and vegetables — Saguenay blueberries, Montérégie strawberries, greenhouse tomatoes from the Laurentians. But what about meat? Generation after generation, Quebec veal producers dedicate themselves every day to raising high-quality animals that will nourish thousands of families across the province. We’d be crazy not to take advantage of that! Since there are countless reasons to choose local veal, today we’d like to share three of them.
1. Because the origin is clear
Knowing exactly where your meat comes from — and being able to trace its journey almost kilometre by kilometre — is priceless. For about fifteen years, all Quebec veal producers have integrated a traceability system into their operations. In short, this system allows farmers to ensure sanitary monitoring throughout the entire production chain. Managed by Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ), the technology helps quickly identify and segregate any animals that may have been exposed to contamination, protecting both public health and herd health.
Did you know that Quebec’s agricultural products have an excellent reputation internationally? The traceability system has a lot to do with that. Years of research have helped us reach true excellence!
2. Because animal welfare is a priority
Quality meat begins with quality farming. Adopting sound practices that support animal welfare and healthy development is essential to producing top-grade veal. So, how do farmers ensure a healthy environment for their animals?
For example, in Quebec, veal calves are raised in groups in well-ventilated, well-lit barns, with spacious pens that allow them to move freely. At all times, they have access to food and fresh water to meet their nutritional needs. One of the most important aspects is ensuring that the animals live in a calm environment, so they can express their natural behaviours.
Good to know: Quebec veal producers participate in a quality-certification program recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, offering consumers an added assurance of safe and responsible farming practices.
3. Because it’s good for your health
We are what we eat, as the saying goes — and what we put on our plate undeniably affects our well-being. That’s nothing new, but it’s always good to be reminded. Now, back to veal.
Veal is a lean animal protein containing less than 7.5% fat, making it well-suited for a low-fat diet. And did you know that Quebec veal is raised without hormones? By choosing meat certified by local producers, you’re choosing exceptional quality — good for you and good for the animal. That’s something your body and your conscience can appreciate.
To learn more about Quebec veal producers and their practices, visit veauduquebec.com.
