November 22 marked the end of the tenth cohort of the specialized training program for professional pickers coordinated by the Association forestière de Lanaudière (AFL).
For the occasion, the students created a sumptuous banquet held at the Cabane à sucre des Sportifs in Ste-Esprit. Trainers, students and their companions were treated to a meal in which forestibles were featured in each of the seven courses prepared for the occasion.
Supported by Institut du tourisme et de l'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ)The students of the tenth cohort set themselves the challenge of showcasing the gastronomic potential of the various products they harvest, such as boletus, maple-scented milk caps and other forest mushrooms.
Woodland tea, balsam myrtle, wild rice and walnut were also part of the 65 other forest products used to make the dishes. Each of the guests can confirm that they far exceeded their objectives.
At the end of this 200-hour training course, the 37 students were introduced to the identification of plants and forest ecosystems, to the various harvesting techniques, and to the processing and marketing of these products. In addition to technical skills, the course aims to raise students' awareness of harvesting ethics, vulnerable plants, and the laws and regulations in force in the different environments in which they will be operating as part of their harvesting activities. The course, developed by a group of specialized trainers, is a tool for developing the knowledge and skills needed to harvest the riches of our forests ethically and responsibly.
Geneviève Laurin, a student from the tenth cohort, says that, following the training, "... la relation à l’environnement change du tout au tout. C’est une porte qui s’ouvre sur une multitude de potentialités en lien avec les forestibles de notre coin de pays. Nous avons dans nos forêts québécoises un potentiel gastronomique énorme. Nous avons à portée de main nos propres saveurs locales bien à nous et c’est à nous de replonger dans ce monde que sont nos écosystèmes forestiers pour se les réapproprier. »
The AFL would like to thank all the partners who have made possible the ten years of this training program, which has become an essential part of the Lanaudière picking industry. In particular, the SADC de Matawinie and the Service aux entreprises du Centre multiservice des Samares, who initially believed in the potential of emerging products and who, year after year, work closely with AFL to implement this training program.
"We would like to congratulate each of the participants and thank all the trainers who shared their expertise in the field, in order to develop this booming sector." says AFL General Manager Karen Ferland.
Registration for the next edition of the course is open until November 30, 2022. The first course of the 11e cohort will take place on February 5, 2023. Interested parties can find information at www.aflanaudiere.org.
About the Association forestière de Lanaudière
The Association Forestière de Lanaudière (AFL) is a non-profit organization incorporated on June 10, 2003. It expresses the regional desire of forestry players to help promote the face of the Lanaudière forest. Since 2008, it has been housed in Quebec's first forest ranger school, located on the site of the Berthier Pépinière et Centre de semences forestières.