Laval, Quebec’s horticultural capital, according to the flavour of the day

Several Laval growers have had to trash their 2008 harvest of flowers as a result of the city’s decision to revise its beautification plan. The changes involve the scrapping of annuals, to replace them with vivacious, an ironic twist since Laval is widely-known for its impressive production of annuals.

“Producers have been seriously deprived in this counterproductive measure,” says Gilles Lacroix, president of UPA (Union of Agricultural Producers) Laval. “(Although) the growers very well understand the (city’s) new direction, it remains that Ville de Laval is no longer buying their flowers,” he specifies.

For Agropôle director Nancy Guay, the city’s decision is consistent with a willingness to move towards sustainable development, as stated in the Strategic Plan devised by the Regional Conference of Elected Representatives (CRE). “The city is still worthy of its title of Quebec’s Horticultural Capital because we still have the know-how; this decision is proof of ingenuity,” explains Mrs. Guay, adding that the percentage of annuals will be gradually modified, eventually to have all of them replaced by vivacious, a flower which requires less care and maintenance. “True, there are a lot of producers of annuals in Laval, but there are also lots of producers of vivacious and plants,” says the Agropôle director, who adds she’s always ready to sit down with growers to try and find new avenues, such as the production of annuals which require less care and maintenance.

For Gilles Lacroix, the city’s decision goes against its image which has always been portrayed and promoted as a horticultural mecca, although it’s still possible to read in Quebec Enterprise magazine that Laval has been christened the horticultural capital “for its numerous parks and flower gardens. “Pressure must be applied to have the city live up to the title,” says Mr. Lacroix. He adds that for now, the producers have to scramble to make a living.