Geneviève M’Boua and Frédérica Fortin‑Foster have launched “Les Marchés d'ici et d’ailleurs” to bring international food products to the Lac-Saint-Jean region [1].

The initiative addresses a gap in local food accessibility by introducing global culinary traditions to a community that previously had limited access to diverse imports. This partnership connects an immigrant's cultural expertise with local business infrastructure to foster community integration.

Based in Saint-Félicien, the project is a collaboration between M’Boua, an immigrant from Côte d'Ivoire, and Fortin‑Foster, a local grocery store owner [1, 2]. The venture aims to provide residents of the region with a variety of world flavors and specialized ingredients that were not readily available in the local market [1, 2].

M’Boua identified a specific local demand for international products before partnering with Fortin‑Foster [1, 2]. By leveraging this demand, the market serves as a bridge between the local population and the diverse gastronomic traditions of other countries, specifically those from M’Boua's heritage and beyond [1, 2].

The market operates as a curated selection of goods designed to share global traditions with the community [1, 2]. The partnership reflects a growing trend of immigrant entrepreneurs collaborating with established local business owners to diversify regional economies in rural Quebec [1, 2].

“Les Marchés d'ici et d’ailleurs brings world-wide flavors to the Lac-Saint-Jean community.”

The establishment of Les Marchés d'ici et d’ailleurs highlights the role of immigrant entrepreneurship in diversifying rural economies. By partnering with established local business owners, newcomers can navigate regional market barriers while fulfilling an unmet consumer demand for cultural diversity in food and commerce.