Respect for heritage
Gaspé Cured salt cod has been recognized worldwide for its quality and uniqueness for generations. Our ancestors once produced their own salt cod, a tradition dating back to 1755 that we have proudly continued ever since. While drying and salting methods have been improved over time, they remain the foundation of our current production.
The cod is still dried on outdoor racks when the temperature permits. However, if the temperature is not favorable, we are equipped with modern dryers that allow us to continue production while obtaining a final product of similar quality.
You don't change a winning formula!
According to centuries-old tradition, each cod is hand-sliced, lightly salted, drained of its water, and then laid out on racks outdoors to dry in the sun. The cod is then stacked for a period of maturation and subsequently laid out again outdoors to complete the final drying stage. This sun-bleaching method, favored by the northwest winds of the Gaspé coast, gives the cod its translucent appearance, savory taste, and exceptional quality.
A unique product, from a unique region
While most salt-cured cod found elsewhere in the world is heavily salted, Gaspé Cured cod stands out for its low salt content, which preserves just as well. This is due not only to its quality but also to the production and preservation conditions afforded by the Gaspé climate. Indeed, the peninsula's cold, dry climate provides the perfect conditions for the optimal salting and open-air drying of a fish whose superior quality is recognized worldwide. All in all, the region is the ideal place to create authentic Gaspé Cured™ products: an amber-colored fish with a translucent appearance and a delicious, unique flavor.
Currently, Les Pêcheries Gaspésiennes is one of only two Quebec companies still producing salt-dried cod using traditional methods, along with Lelièvre, Lelièvre & Lemoignan, which is also part of the Gaspé Cured consortium. Our Petit-Cap plant, located on the waterfront, is entirely dedicated to this purpose.
