{"id":81959,"date":"2023-08-02T11:54:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T15:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abitibi-temiscamingue.org\/borealait\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T10:46:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:46:39","slug":"borealait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atrat.lebleu.co\/en\/borealait\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bor\u00e9alait Dairy Farm: Guided by the Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BY Andr\u00e9e-Anne Mainville<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Dairy farming is among the pillars of the farming industries in the region. At the heart of this activity stands Bor\u00e9alait,<\/a> a young family-owned dairy farm that produces and transforms its milk into many dairy delights. Located in Saint-F\u00e9lix-de-Dalquier,<\/a> in Abitibi-T\u00e9miscamingue,<\/a> it stands out by its products as well as by the kindness of the souls who manage it. Let\u2019s discover this business and some of the values and principles coloring its entrepreneurial process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Family Farm Rooted in Passion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bor\u00e9alait, it\u2019s Evelyne Rancourt, Benoit Larochelle and their five children: \u00c9loi, Robin, Thomas, J\u00e9r\u00f4me and L\u00e9onie. Set up on the ancestral land of Benoit\u2019s family, the farm began transforming a part of its milk production in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Benoit \u00a9 Genevi\u00e8ve Dugon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Evelyne \u00a9 Christian Leduc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of the boys \u00a9 Christian Leduc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Beyond simple farming, the family adventure is an emotionally rich humane experience. Everyday, they share their love for the animals and their passion for dairy production with their customers, thus creating a relationship of trust and reciprocal appreciation with the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the visits at the farm, as well as the purchases at the cheese factory allow the visitors to dive into the Bor\u00e9alait<\/a> universe, to observe the workings of the trade, and to live an authentic experience with – let\u2019s be honest – a little taste of coming back again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Christian Leduc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some of dairy products and regional artisan products are available at their store \u00a9 Evelyne Rancourt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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When Local Producers Blend Their Flavours in Abitibi-T\u00e9miscamingue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The artisan dairy products made by Bor\u00e9alait are a true delight for the taste buds and please the fans of dairy sweets. Among the favorites, there are the cheese curds, the yogurt and all of its variants, as well as the milk (you must taste the chocolate milk). Also, Evelyne and Benoit involve many other regional producers directly into their confections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when you eat the Bor\u00e9alait delights, you also enjoy the jams from La Fraisonn\u00e9e, the honey from the Miellerie de la Grande Ourse, Temsucre\u2019s maple syrup, as well as many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bor\u00e9alait\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Bor\u00e9alait cheese curds \u00a9 Evelyne Rancourt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bor\u00e9alait artisan milk in a reusable glass bottle \u00a9 Evelyne Rancourt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A Commitment to quality and sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small-scale by choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though Bor\u00e9alait is small in size, there are no plans for expansion. Evelyne explains that, for them, it\u2019s a way to guarantee the authenticity of the products they make. Indeed, they would not want to risk distorting their nature in the process of industrializing their installations, which would be necessary to increase production. The goal is thus to continue to protect the artisan nature, to keep this \u201cfrom our family to yours\u201d spirit.
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Eco-Friendly packaging and practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also, a little visit at the store allows you to notice how ecology is part of the first values of Bor\u00e9alait. This green philosophy can be observed through their use of returnable bottles for the milk, as well as recyclable and reusable yogurt containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the creamy taste of the products, their delicate texture and their nutritional richness can testify for the love and know-how involved into every step of the dairy production process. Their cheese and yogurt pie, for example, is divine, unctuously smooth. Moreover, it\u2019s Evelyne\u2019s mom\u2019s recipe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amazing cheese and yogurt pie \u00a9 Jenny-Lee Larivi\u00e8re<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An air of novelty at Bor\u00e9alait, a family-owned dairy farm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If Bor\u00e9alait is not a tourist oriented business, it welcomes many visitors every week nonetheless. Many desire to meet the family and learn more about their cheese shop. Thus, the owners are actually trying to develop a way to conjugate the business reality with the idea of a more pedagogical approach to offer to visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, they recently inaugurated an outdoor pavilion: a beautiful space where to eat an ice cream outside, comfortably installed in the shade. Complements will better that area in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there are also plans to develop new products, such as a variety of fine cheeses. Miummmm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Marjorie Paletta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u00a9 Evelyne Rancourt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Artisan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Famous chocolate milk \u00a9 Evelyne Rancourt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Why choose regional products?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next time you enjoy one of their products, remember that behind every mouthful, there is this enthusiastic and loving family. Also, to support a local dairy production, it\u2019s also a way to support a way of living that protects our food heritage!
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