In 2022, the community of Gespeg benefited from the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to equip the cold storage facility in which they process community hunting and fishing products.
New equipment for processing game
In order to be able to process community hunting and fishing products, they acquired hooks, a post and a chain hoist, also known as a chain block. These are used to palletize the game to age the meat. They also acquired all the equipment necessary for cutting the meat: gloves, trays, cutting table, sink, etc. With a view to improving the quality of their products, they finally equipped their cold storage facility with a meat grinder, a vacuum sealer machine and a smoker.
Traditions to be preserved
Not only does this facility enhance hunting products, it also makes it possible to maintain traditional knowledge related to the processing of game and fishing products. For example, the acquisition of a smoker perpetuates the Mi’gmag tradition for fish preservation.
Community fishing as an economic driver
The community’s investments in setting up this new facility have generated many positive spinoffs for the community. The products, which are distributed to seniors, are of higher quality and better preserved. This allows them to be kept and consumed longer. The initiative also made it possible to hire a butcher and create an economic activity for the community, which was able to form a partnership with the Ministère de l’environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la faune et des parcs to recover all the animals seized by wildlife officers around Gespeg.
