A farm, seven generations, and citrus fruits… Welcome to Ferme Vaillancourt!

A Brief History
by Tourisme Laval

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This vegetable farm on Avenue des Perron has shaped Laval’s agricultural landscape for nearly 200 years. Seven generations have since succeeded one another in growing fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, corn… and even flowers. But for the past year, the Vaillancourt Farm has been making a name for itself with a new product: citrus fruits!

Founded by Vyckie Vaillancourt, a proud representative of the seventh generation, O’Citrus is now the first company in Quebec to grow and market citrus fruits that are typically found in Asia and Europe.

Although Vyckie grew up on the family farm, it was only recently that she decided to fully commit to it. After a career in communications, Vyckie traded in her suit and high heels for a more casual outfit. “When my father mentioned the possibility of selling the farm if I wasn’t interested in taking over, I decided to give it a try. So I’ve been at it for two years now! It’s not always easy. It’s very demanding and I have a lot to learn, but since I’m the kind of person who needs projects and challenges to keep moving forward, I’m in the right place!” says Vyckie Vaillancourt.

Among the projects in question is, of course, the creation of O’Citrus, her farm specializing in exotic citrus fruits intended primarily for restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and players in the food industry. Her greenhouse is home to more than 120 trees of rare varieties: yuzu, Buddha’s hand, kaffir lime, and more. “I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished. There’s real demand, and it’s growing all the time. In fact, I have to turn down orders because my production just isn’t enough,” explains Vyckie. The young entrepreneur is involved at every level, even handling deliveries herself. “The relationship with customers is very important to me. I grew up watching my family build relationships with customers, and that’s what I’m doing today,” she explains.

Vyckie, a woman of many projects

Despite very busy days—and even weeks—Vyckie has several ideas in mind for the family farm and O’Citrus. Among them, she hopes to welcome more visitors and expand the educational aspect. “I want people to reconnect with the farm. I want to explain how we grow our crops and let them experience it firsthand. I’d also like to attract a younger clientele and ensure our farm stands out for its dynamic and unique character,” says Vyckie. To achieve this, she’d like to organize cocktail competitions in the fields with mixologists, create an educational greenhouse where people could enjoy coffee and smoothies made with farm-grown fruit, host rustic events, and more. In fact, she is organizing the first countryside dinner, right in the heart of the fields, which will showcase the quality of Quebec’s local produce. “Two Michelin-starred chefs, originally from France, will close the doors of their respective restaurants to come cook here using our local ingredients. A first for Ferme Vaillancourt! Guests will have the chance to enjoy menus crafted exclusively with local ingredients. A wonderful opportunity to experience the farm and all its benefits!” concludes the seventh-generation representative.

Did you know?

• It was Vyckie’s grandmother, Agathe, who came up with the idea of selling vegetables by the roadside 60 years ago. That’s how the Chez Vaillancourt Kiosk came to be.
• In 2018, Agathe produced 5,000 jars of preserves (jams and pickles).
• Among Ferme Vaillancourt’s customers are loyal patrons who used to visit the stand when they were children and who now return with their grandchildren.
• The Vaillancourt family’s farmland covers 60 hectares.
• It takes seven years before the citrus fruits can be harvested from the trees.
• In 2019, 2,000 new raspberry plants and 16,000 strawberry plants were planted… by hand!
• Vyckie came up with the idea for O’Citrus during a business startup simulation for one of her^{graduate-level} courses at HEC Montréal.
• Ferme Vaillancourt's star products: strawberries, raspberries, and tomatoes.
• In the fall, you can pick your own eggplants, tomatoes, and chili peppers.
• Vyckie won several awards in 2019, including:
  • At the Dunamis competition, she took top honors in the "Young Executive, Entrepreneur, or Professional" category
  • She distinguished herself in the regional round of the OSEntreprendre Challenge by winning the award in the “Bio-food, Business Start-up” category
  • In the national round of the Défi OSEntreprendre competition, she took first place in the Bio-Food category and also won the Women’s Entrepreneurship Special Recognition Award.