jecuisinelocal.be

jecuisinelocal is a digital initiative of the Walloon public agency APAQ-W, created to promote local, seasonal, and sustainable food in Wallonia. It connects consumers with farmers, artisans, restaurants, and other local food points of sale through a website, mobile app, campaigns, and communication actions. The platform positions itself as a bridge between producers and consumers: it helps people discover nearby local food, understand the value of short supply chains, and support a more responsible food system. Its content also extends beyond shopping to recipes, labels, and educational articles about health, sustainability, and fair remuneration for producers. Key Offerings Local food directory and map : A searchable platform and mobile app that help consumers find nearby producers, artisans, farm shops, restaurants, and other local points of sale. Short-chain and seasonal food content : Editorial pages explain what short supply chains are and encourage seasonal, local consumption. Recipes using local products : The site publishes seasonal recipes designed to showcase local ingredients and make local cooking easier. Producer and label promotion : The platform highlights local producers, artisans, and labels such as Table de Terroir, En Direct de la Ferme, and other APAQ-W initiatives. Core Values Proximity and trust : The initiative emphasizes knowing where food comes from and connecting a product with the people and place behind it. Sustainability : It promotes local, seasonal consumption as a way to reduce transport, waste, and environmental impact. Fairness : The platform supports fairer remuneration for producers and encourages consumers to value local agricultural work. Responsibility and awareness : Its charter invites consumers to become more conscious actors in their food choices and to support responsible agriculture. Unique Aspects Public-sector backing : #jecuisinelocal is led by APAQ-W, the Walloon agency for the promotion of quality agriculture, giving it institutional credibility and a regional public-interest mission. Multi-tool ecosystem : Beyond a website, the initiative includes a mobile app, communication campaigns, recipe content, and thematic sub-platforms focused on different local-food categories. Large local network : The circuit-court platform references nearly 1,300 listed points of sale, making it a broad discovery tool for local food in Wallonia. Table de Terroir label : The initiative promotes a restaurant label that requires local products on the menu, seasonal variation, and fair payment to producer partners. En Direct de la Ferme label : Since 2023, the platform has also supported a label that allows eligible direct-sale local products to be paid for with eco-cheques.