Competitive advantages
- Ease of supply: Region located in the heart of the “jardin du Québec ( Québec’s garden)”, 91% of the RCM is agricultural, an important basin for manufacturers and suppliers present in an operational area.
- Access to a large supply of drinking water.
- Strategically located land with all services available at competitive prices.
- 13 rural municipalities supported by the National Rural Policy.
- Located 20 minutes from Montreal, outside of congestion areas.
Agri-food is the largest manufacturing sector in Quebec, all sectors combined, with $29.1 billion in distribution.
Presence of the Horticulture-Agriculture Research and Development Centre Canada
- Located in the city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu;
- Specialized in large market gardening;
- Research in the sectors of production, protection and conservation of horticultural products;
- Resources: laboratories, greenhouses, growth chambers, breeding rooms, cold rooms and a spray room, all equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
Networking opportunities
More than 40 companies working in industry and related sectors:
- Meat and poultry processing;
- Manufacture of cheese, sausages, beer, wine, fresh and frozen bakery products, chocolate truffles, apple products, strawberries, organic and horticultural products;
- Manufacture of packaging products, food films, labelling systems;
- Bottling, reconditioning, grain drying services;
- And others.
Investment incentives
- Investment tax credit program of the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
- Local Investment Fund (FLI).
- R&D tax credits that can reach 15% in the case of the federal government and 17.5% (refundable) in the case of the Government of Quebec.
- Other financial incentives.
Research and development
Expertise available nearby (Greater Montreal):
Workforce
- 1,200 jobs in more than 45 companies in 2018.
- Several industries, in diversified related sectors, providing access to a skilled, stable and competitive workforce.
- Access to a large pool of labour from the Montérégie and Greater Montreal regions.
Strong job creation and stability make Quebec’s agri-food industry stand out each year. The agri-food sector represents 12% of the jobs in the entire Quebec economy.
Specialized training programs
Commission scolaire des Hautes-Rivières - Vocational training
- Catering service – DEP
- Kitchen – DEP
- Fast food kitchen – AEP
- Contemporary catering pastry – ASP
Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
- Farm Business Management and Technologies – CED
- Transport logistics techniques – DEC
- Training available for companies
Institut de technologie agroalimentaire near (St-Hyacinthe)
- Farm Business Management and Technologies – CED
- Horticultural Production and Environmental Technology – DEC
- Food Process and Quality Technology – CED
- Animal Production Technology – CED
- Agromechanical Engineering Technology – DEC
Universities in the vicinity
- École de technologie supérieure – Réseau de l’Université du Québec
- École polytechnique de Montréal – Université de Montréal
- McGill University
- Concordia University
- University of Sherbrooke
List of agri-food organizations
CTAQ - Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec
The CTAQ’s mission is to ensure the representation, promotion and defence of its members’ interests with stakeholders and to support them in reaching their full potential to ensure the sustainability of the food industry in Quebec.
AGRO Quebec
Actively contributes to the development of Québec’s agri-food sector by supporting companies and organizations in the production, processing and distribution sector in order to achieve their positioning and growth objectives.
UPA - Union des producteurs agricoles
The main mission of the UPA is to promote, defend and develop the professional, economic, social and moral interests of Quebec’s agricultural and forestry producers, both in Canada and abroad.