Combating Food Insecurity: “Pommes Qualité Québec” apples are now offered free of charge as part of Olo Care
Fondation Olo is proud to announce a new partnership with the Producteurs de pommes du Québec (PPQ) as well as the Association des emballeurs de pommes du Québec (AEPQ) to offer an additional food as part of Olo Care. Apples bearing the Pommes Qualité Québec logo will now be the fifth food offered during the postnatal period, in addition to bread, meat purees, baby cereal and tofu. The two apple industry groups join our main financial partner, the government of Quebec, to make the addition of apples possible during the launch year of the postnatal food component of Olo Care.
The addition of apples to the Olo family is an important milestone because we can now cover all the food groups within Olo Care. It’s a huge step forward, and a proof of our determination to develop promising partnerships with local companies. This collaboration advances our ambition to break the cycle of food and social inequalities by offering foods through a relevant, accessible and sustainable program aimed at the most vulnerable families.
In April 2024, Fondation Olo announced that it would now offer foods during the postnatal period through new coupons redeemable in stores. The new partnership announced today marks the second phase of the rollout of that improved program. Starting today, families will have access to the coupon allowing them to get Quebec apples. Apples are local, versatile, accessible year-round and have a good nutritional value, and that makes them a fruit of choice for the Olo Care program.
It’s a great pleasure for us to join the Olo family. We firmly believe that every Quebec family deserves access to healthy, nutritious food. We’re proud to join forces with Fondation Olo to support vulnerable families and help build a healthy future, one apple at a time.
An announcement welcomed by many partners
At the Coteau Rougemont vineyard and cider mill, in the presence of representatives from the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est, local community organizations and partners from the food and philanthropic sectors, Member of the National Assembly for Iberville Audrey Bogemans and Minister Responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action Chantal Rouleau highlighted the importance of this initiative and of the grassroot work accomplished through Olo Care.
The addition of Quebec apples to the foods offered by Olo during the postnatal period is a concrete step forward for our young families. By adding a first fruit that is fresh, local and nutritious, Fondation Olo reinforces its essential role in a child’s first 1,000 days. Our government is proud to support this type of initiative,” emphasized Minister Chantal Rouleau, in a video shown to guests.
About Fondation Olo
Fondation Olo’s mission is to give families an equal chance of bringing a healthy baby into the world and of introducing them to healthy eating habits early on. Olo acts in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from pregnancy to age two—a crucial development period. By offering Olo Care in the health and social services network and collaborating with community and Indigenous organizations, Fondation Olo acts on three key levers of nutrition: access to food, nutritional knowledge and capacity for action. Since 1991, more than 250,000 babies in Quebec have been born healthier because of Fondation Olo, helping to mitigate the effects of social inequalities related to diet. For the second year running, Olo has received the “Aliments du Québec au menu” recognition for its promotion of local food products.
Apple production in Quebec
Quebec is home to 416 apple growers, spread across several regions, who contribute to an annual production of over 235 million pounds, or 5.6 million bins. For the 2023-2024 season, this production generated nearly $80 million in farm revenues, supporting the local economy and the vitality of agricultural regions.
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Sources: Fondation Olo, Institut de la statistique du Québec, Les Producteurs de pommes du Québec
For information or interview requests
Laurence Chiasson
Conseillère - Projets de communication et stratégie d’impact
Fondation Olo
514 236-9216
[email protected]