Dear Editor:
Five years ago, we started Maple Roch and Roch Lobster and I remember operating from the back of my pick-up truck seeking support from the community to help with these two businesses.
I had made a promise to the residents of the Acadian Peninsula that upon my retirement from the RCMP I was going to try to support them as much as I could from my new home in Summerland.
Even though the northern region of New Brunswick has a high unemployment rate and is economically depressed, you cannot find more proud and generous people.
Our little businesses have grown a lot since we started in 2012, and it is time to thank all of you for your help and support.
I remember my first meeting with Len at Summerland Sweets. I approached him to bottle our maple syrup from the Rioux family. He was great at finding ways to make things happen.
Our next step was with Juanita at Source Graphics to help with our labelling and graphics. She had never promoted maple syrup or lobster before but, like Len, she had a “we can do it attitude” and said let’s have fun with it.
Then the business community and the residents of Summerland truly got involved by supporting us and promoting our product.
I remember Todd at True Grain placing his first order of maple syrup and then placing my first order of apple strudel for Roch Lobster.
Then, Bob at Dirty Laundry began showcasing our lobster lunch and dinner and continuously pushed me to expand
Then the fruit stands like Granny’s, the Peach Pit, Little Acres helped me support the maple craftsmen from New Brunswick. Then the residents of Summerland got involved, coming to the farmer’s markets to buy our product.
I cannot thank you enough and you should be proud to know that you are contributing to the success of three incredible New Brunswick families.
We have signed a contact with Sysco to deliver our product to restaurants throughout the Okanagan, and IGA all across the province (thank you Colin for the support) and now we have begun to export product to Japan and hopefully to more countries shortly as result of our exhibition at the International Fancy Food show in San Francisco last week.
In addition, we now have three full time employees and the support of five more part-time employees that are clients of Summerland Resource Centre.
These individuals are on long term disability and they have been some of the best employees I ever had. We are sure fortunate to have them with us.
To conclude, I have learned that Summerland has been a great place for me and my family and hope to be able to contribute even more to help our community in the future.
I would like to thank the Summerland Review and its staff for continuously supporting local businesses and reminding all of us how fortunate we are to still have a local paper right here in Summerland.
Roch Fortin
Maple Roch
Summerland
