Québec Vert

What Québec Vert does

Québec Vert is a Quebec-based non-profit federation, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Saint-Hyacinthe, that represents and serves the ornamental, environmental, and food horticulture sector. The organization operates as a unified industry association with 10 affiliated associations spanning the full value chain from producers (ornamental growers, nurseries, Christmas tree farms) to service providers (irrigation professionals, garden centers, cut flower farms). Its core service portfolio includes the bi-monthly Québec Vert Magazine, annual events (Expo Québec Vert trade show and Tournée Inspiration industry tour), the Service de veille phytosanitaire (phytosanitary monitoring bulletins), certification programs (O'Certification Environnementale, Végétaux du Québec launching Fall 2027), training (SOFAD levels 1 and 2), public education campaigns (Arroser futé water conservation program, Je te remplace invasive species replacement), and a workforce matching program (Vivre de sa passion pour l'horticulture).

The organization generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring annual membership fees (enterprise, individual, partner tiers), event registration fees (Tournée Inspiration at $525 member rate, $625 non-member rate), and corporate partnership referral income from agreements with TELUS Santé, Caterpillar, GM, Esso, Petro-Canada, and CNLA that deliver quantifiable member savings (40%+ on CNESST contributions, 18% on group insurance). Distribution occurs through direct membership sales, the affiliated association channel network, and a self-serve digital platform at transactions.quebecvert.com. The technology stack is conventional web infrastructure (Google Analytics, reCAPTCHA, CyberImpact email marketing), with no proprietary AI or software products.

In January 2025, Québec Vert completed two strategic mergers absorbing Jardinerie Québec (commercialization sector) and Irrigation Québec, and in June 2026 added APFCQ (110 cut flower farms) as its 10th affiliated association. The federation receives government funding from MAPAQ and the Quebec Environment Ministry for sector development projects, and partners with TPQuébec, HortiCompétences, Table filière de l'horticulture ornementale, and Québec Vrai on certification and workforce initiatives.

Name

Québec Vert

Legal name

Québec Vert

Website

https://quebecvert.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Québec Vert is a Quebec-based non-profit federation, founded in 1977, representing the ornamental, environmental, and food horticulture sector through 10 affiliated associations. It delivers training, certification, advocacy, events, and corporate discount programs to garden centers, nurseries, irrigation professionals, and horticultural producers across Quebec.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-hyacinthe

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Québec Vert generates revenue through annual membership fees from enterprise members, individual members, and partners. Members receive access to services including training, certifications, networking events, and member discounts.
2. Event registration fees: Revenue from paid events such as the Tournée Inspiration (member rate $525, non-member rate $625) and Expo Québec Vert. Events include site visits, networking, and professional development.
3. Corporate partnership agreements: Québec Vert negotiates corporate partnerships with companies like TELUS Santé, Caterpillar, GM, Esso, Petro-Canada, providing member discounts and receiving referral benefits or administrative fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Québec Vert is a non-profit federation that represents and supports Quebec's ornamental, environmental, and food-producing horticulture sector through advocacy, training, certification programs, and industry events. The federation delivers member services including training (SOFAD levels 1 and 2), irrigation certification (BNQ standards, O'Certification Environnementale), phytosanitary monitoring (Service de veille phytosanitaire), annual trade show (Expo Québec Vert), member networking tours (Tournée Inspiration), and corporate benefit programs negotiated with major suppliers. Following the 2025 mergers with Jardinerie Québec and Irrigation Québec, Québec Vert now operates through 10 affiliated associations serving the full horticulture value chain.

Product overview

Québec Vert is a professional association serving the ornamental, environmental, and food horticulture sector in Quebec, operating as a unified federation with multiple divisions and affiliated associations. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio including publications (Québec Vert Magazine), events (Expo Québec Vert, Tournée Inspiration), phytosanitary monitoring services (SVP), environmental programs (Arroser futé, O'Certification Environnementale), irrigation professional services (via Irrigation Québec division), commercialization support (via Jardinerie Québec division), and corporate member benefits. Following mergers with Irrigation Québec and Jardinerie Québec in January 2025, the organization now encompasses 10 affiliated associations serving the complete horticulture value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arroser futé: A public information campaign developed by Québec Vert as part of the Quebec Water Conservation Strategy 2019-2025, helping Quebecers reduce water consumption in gardens by improving irrigation practices.
• Irrigation Québec
• Jardinerie Québec (Commercialisation Division)
• Certification Végétaux du Québec

Products and services

• Tournée Inspiration Annual multi-site networking and inspiration event bringing together garden center owners, managers, employees, and suppliers to visit horticultural businesses in a specific region of Quebec. Open to enterprise and individual members at $525 and non-members at $625.
• Expo Québec Vert Annual trade show where exhibitors reserve booths to showcase products and services to horticulture professionals across Quebec. Includes networking and training programming; targeted as the launch venue for the upcoming Végétaux du Québec certification.
• Québec Vert Magazine Bi-monthly professional magazine (6 issues per year) featuring 100% original content covering ornamental horticulture and landscape design, distributed to members and subscribers.
• Service de veille phytosanitaire (SVP) Phytosanitary monitoring bulletin service identifying pests and diseases present in Quebec, providing diagnostic elements, intervention solutions, and treatment options. Coordinated with ASHOQ and Les Fleurons du Québec.
• O'Certification Environnementale (OCE) Environmental certification program for irrigation companies promoting continuous improvement practices for sustainable irrigation. Part of the Irrigation Québec recognition stack offered under Québec Vert post-merger.
• Mutuelle de prévention Horticulture (TELUS Santé) Work health and safety mutual specific to the horticultural sector, offering members an average of 40%+ savings on CNESST contributions with an additional 2–9% reduction on base fees for member organizations.
• Group Insurance Program (HortiCompétences / Sage) Collective insurance program for member horticultural enterprises (minimum 3 employees working 26+ weeks/year) offering an average of 18% savings on group insurance premiums.
• Vivre de sa passion pour l'horticulture Workforce attraction program pairing experienced horticulture workers aged 45+ with garden centers across Quebec, including 14 hours of free training for advisor-seller positions starting in April.
• Member Newsletter (Infolettre) Exclusive member-only newsletter providing practical tools, collaboration opportunities, sector news, and digital magazine access for Québec Vert members.
• Arroser futé Program Public information campaign within the Quebec Water Conservation Strategy 2019-2025, helping Quebecers reduce garden water consumption through best practices, tips, and downloadable tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40%+ average savings on CNESST contributions through the Mutuelle de prévention Horticulture
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TPQuébec (Association des travaux publics du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Strategic partnership for 2026 to strengthen collaboration around greening, ornamental horticulture, and good business practices. Joint activities include projects, events, and initiatives for common clientele, with increased collaboration during Expo Québec Vert including networking and training activities for TPQuébec members.
• APFCQ (Association des productrices et producteurs de Fleurs Coupées du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026APFCQ, representing 110 flower farms, officially joined Québec Vert as the 10th affiliated association. This membership contributes to the sustainability of Quebec cut flower production, increasing market share among consumers, and recognition of economic and environmental benefits.
• Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCNLA partnership provides access to corporate savings programs including Caterpillar equipment discounts (up to $2,750), vehicle discounts (up to $12,000 from GM, Isuzu, Dodge, Jeep, RAM), fuel savings (Esso, Petro-Canada), and other supplier partnerships. CNLA handles member services administration.
• TELUS SantécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTELUS Santé provides the Mutuelle de prévention Horticulture, a health and safety mutual specific to the horticultural sector that reduces CNESST contributions by an average of over 40%. Members also receive 2-9% additional reduction on base fees and management honoraries.
• Irrigation Québec (merged into Québec Vert)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrrigation Québec officially merged with Québec Vert in January 2025, creating a stronger unified organization. The merger brings professional irrigation services including BNQ standards, O'Certification Environnementale, SOFAD training, and municipal support resources under the Québec Vert umbrella.
• Jardinerie Québec (merged into Québec Vert)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJardinerie Québec officially merged with Québec Vert in January 2025. The merger brings commercialization services, Tournée Inspiration, phytosanitary monitoring, and garden center support into the unified organization, with former members becoming Québec Vert Enterprise members.
• HortiCompétencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with workforce development organization providing collective insurance programs (18% average savings), the Vivre de sa passion pour l'horticulture project matching workers 45+ with garden centers, and collaboration on attracting and retaining industry employment.
• Table filière de l'horticulture ornementalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative table developing the Végétaux du Québec certification in partnership with Québec Vrai. The certification covers five horticultural productions (sod, greenhouse crops, nurseries, cut flowers, Christmas trees) with launch planned for fall 2027 at Expo Québec Vert.
• Québec VraicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Québec Vrai to develop the Végétaux du Québec certification program for identifying and promoting Quebec-produced plants. The certification aims to strengthen industry competitiveness against imported products.
• MAPAQ (Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAPAQ provides funding through the Plan de développement territorial et sectoriel (PDTS) for multiple projects including the certification development, market matching studies, and indigenous plant production development. Multiple new projects announced in early 2026.
• Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte aux Changements Climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for environmental projects including the Je te remplace invasive species replacement program (Phase 2) and endangered species awareness project for the horticultural sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AmericanHort: The largest North American trade association for the horticulture industry, formed from the merger of ANLA and OFA. Overlapping sector coverage and service mix (events like Cultivate, certifications, advocacy, member savings), but operates at a much larger US scale.
• Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA): Quebec's general agricultural producer union, covering all primary agriculture including horticulture. Broader and more politically powerful than Québec Vert; relevant as the higher-level industry body that horticulture producers also belong to and that competes for the same MAPAQ funding pool.
• International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH): Global umbrella body for national horticultural producer associations. Overlapping category (ornamental and horticultural producers) but operates internationally rather than regionally; relevant as the international federation of which CNLA and Canadian associations participate.

Direct peers

• Landscape Ontario: Ontario's horticultural trades association representing growers, landscape contractors, garden centres, and irrigation professionals. Nearest direct peer — same sector scope (ornamental, environmental, food horticulture), same revenue model (memberships, events, training, certifications), but operating in Ontario rather than Quebec.
• Irrigation Association: North American membership organization for irrigation professionals. Directly comparable to the Irrigation Québec division now housed within Québec Vert — same target customers, certification programs (e.g., irrigation auditor credentials), advocacy, and training delivery.
• Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA): National Canadian federation of provincial horticultural associations. Quebec Vert is itself a CNLA member/partner; comparable in function as an umbrella trade body aggregating provincial associations, running corporate member-benefit programs, and representing the sector nationally.

Emerging players

• Perennial Plant Association: US-based trade association focused specifically on perennial plants. Narrower scope than Québec Vert but overlapping on ornamental horticulture producers and garden centres; runs educational events and member programs in a similar fashion.

Regional players

• Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN): US regional horticultural trade association serving Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry. Comparable in scale and structure to Québec Vert — strong member-services focus, events (Farwest Show), government advocacy — but with no Canadian geographic overlap.
• Horticultural Trades Association (HTA): UK trade association for garden retail, nursery production, and landscape services. Comparable in structure (multi-segment federation model, events, training, advocacy) and service portfolio, but operates in the UK market with no geographic overlap.
• British Columbia Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA): Provincial horticultural industry association serving British Columbia. Same vertical scope (nursery, landscape, garden retail) and similar service mix (events, training, advocacy), but serves a different Canadian province with no overlap in member territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/expoquebecvert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quebecvert
• Xx.com/Quebecvert

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Québec Vert