Josef Aubert – Contributor

If you’ve ever grabbed a jar of jam or a bag of coffee beans and noticed a small green or red logo that reads Créateurs de saveurs Cantons-de-l’Est, you’ve already come across one of the easiest ways to eat local without overthinking it.

That mark isn’t just there for decoration. It certifies that the food was grown, raised, gathered or transformed right here in the Eastern Townships, and that the business behind it met local criteria. It’s not marketing fluff; it’s a guarantee that what you’re buying actually comes from the Townships. 

Graphic courtesy of Jayme Marteniuk

The certification is run by the Conseil de l’industrie bioalimentaire de l’Estrie (CIBLE), a Sherbrooke-based non-profit that regroups local producers, processors, retailers and restaurants around one promise: local sourcing. In other words, you know exactly where your goat cheese or cider came from. 

This year, there’s even more reason to pay attention. The Créateurs de saveurs label turns 15, and its network includes more than 225 certified producers, farmers, shops and restaurants across the region. What started as a handful of farms has become a real ecosystem, one that fuels the local economy.

From farm stands to grocery aisles

You’ll spot the logo at farmers’ markets, on jars, bottles and bread bags, but the label is also making its way into everyday grocery runs. CIBLE works with participating Boutiques & Épiciers Saveurs, which highlight local products on their shelves with clear signage. If you’re juggling classes, practices and midterms, that means you can do a “shop-local” grocery run without zigzagging across the region.

If you’re more of an explorer, the program’s interactive map at createursdesaveurs.com/carte-des-createurs-de-saveurs makes it easy to plan a mini road trip, maybe a café stop, a market stroll and a visit to a local farm. There’s also a search engine if you’re after something more specific.

Why it matters

For students living on a budget, buying local can sound like an expensive habit. But supporting certified regional products keeps dollars circulating nearby, helps small farms survive and usually means better tasting and better quality food. It’s an easy way to support the community that hosts Bishop’s and eat well in the process. Every time you pick up something with that label, you’re supporting local producers, backing sustainable farming practices and cutting down on the miles your food travels to get to your plate. It’s a small act that adds up, especially in a university town where community ties matter.

15 years in, the message behind the red label hasn’t changed: when you choose local, you’re not just eating better, you’re keeping the Eastern Townships thriving.