In keeping with the spirit of ethical consumerism, we’ve also listed suppliers of fair trade products (as in chocolate not grown by African child slaves) and (comparatively) humanely produced animal foods. "Humanely produced," "free range," and other descriptions can be deceptive. To make sure you’re getting what you think you are, ask the seller for specifics. A number of the businesses listed below sell or serve Winnipeg Humane Society Certified meat or eggs. The WHSC label means that certain minimal standards of humane treatment – such as no cages for poultry and minimum space requirements for any animal – have been verifed by inspectors visiting the farm. Others may be listed on WHS’s website. We recommend checking with these businesses first to verify that they have WHS-certified products in stock.

Because vegetarianism is as humane to animals as you can get and exceptionally light on the environment, we’ve listed vegetarian restaurants too. It goes without saying that all or most of the other businesses on our list sell vegetarian meat and/or dairy substitutes too. For a more comprehensive directory, see the Vegetarian Guide to Winnipeg.

It’s true that ethical eating usually costs more at the checkout counter. But the savings to the environment, to animal welfare, to rural society and to human health are priceless.

Affinity Vegetarian Garden. 100–208 Edmonton Street. 943-0251. Mostly vegan Chinese vegetarian restaurant. Open daily for supper; lunch buffet Monday to Saturday.

Ambrosia Organic Groceries. 684 Osborne St. 953-1821. Opening this June. All organic, featuring produce, grains (no soy products), breads, snacks, groceries, wild and free-range meat, eggs, dairy, and body care. Certified organic bedding plants in spring.

Bread and Circuses. 238 Lilac St. (off Corydon). 477-4555. Trendy bakery, deli, and licensed café bakes and cooks from scratch with Winnipeg Humane Society Certified and Manitoba Certified Organic animal and vegetable ingredients.

Cousin's Deli & Bar. 55 Sherbrook at Wolseley. 783-4695. Mostly vegetarian menu, including knishes, samosas, roti, Jamaican patties, veggie and vegan burgers and cheesecake. 

Caulfield’s Organic Market. 885 Westminster Ave. 786-3289 or 772-1404 (Humboldt’s Legacy). Humboldt’s Legacy (see below) now includes a full-featured organic foodstore next door offering produce, groceries, bulk foods – "everything." Also features "tons" of vegan and vegetarian products, including organic dairy and local genuinely free-range eggs, as well as organic fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate. 

Delicious Vegetarian Restaurant. 1467 Pembina Highway. 477-1530. All vegan Chinese restaurant. Open daily for supper; Monday to Friday for lunch (including buffet). 

Down to Earth Guide to Organic Food in Manitoba. Produced by the Organic Food Council of Manitoba, this inexpensive booklet is sold at organic food stores and restaurants and by Manitoba Eco-Network, #2–70 Albert Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1E6 (send a cheque for $5).

Earth 'n Sole. 622E Main Street, Oakbank, MB. (204) 444-2387. This natural grocery store, gift shop, and holistic health centre carries certified organic produce, groceries and bulk foods; and environmentally friendly personal, homecare and paper products. Also has food buying club. 

EARTHSHARE: Agricultual Cooperatives of Central Americans Ltd. 797-4520 or 888-5298. Every week from early June to early September, this organic farm near Anola delivers big bagfuls of organic produce – veggies, herbs, even some fruit – to eight drop-off sites around Winnipeg for its members. 

Eat It.ca, www.eatit.ca. Certified organic online foodstore, owned and managed by Winnipeg family. Specializes in products from local businesses and farmers as well as organic growers from BC.  Range includes fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, dairy, eggs, breads, bulk dry goods, and frozen, canned, and packaged goods.  Order online for pick-up or delivery. 

F.O.O.D. Fresh Option Organic Delivery. 772-1479. www.freshoption.ca. This new service seeks "to help urban eaters connect with sustainable producers in our own province and to make locally produced organic foods easy to access in one simple weekly deliver." It also offers a wide selection of nonlocal organic produce, groceries, snack foods, bulk grains and legumes, freshly baked breads, fair trade organic coffee, local hydroponic herbs, and more than the usual amount of meat and dairy alternatives for vegetarians. Call or visit their website to learn about their weekly "fresh box" sizes and options. 

The Forks Meat Market. The Forks. 957-0181. Sells WHS-Certified and organic meats.

Frigs' Natural Meats and More. 3515 Main St. 334-9430. Specializes in "naturally" produced meats.

Harry’s Foods. 905 Portage Ave. 987-8840. Carries some organic produce and packaged products as well as naturally raised meats.

House of Nutrition. 770 Notre Dame Ave. 775-9044. This venerable health food store carries organicproduce, grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, groceries, and meat. They even will stone grind your grain or flax seed while you wait.

Humboldt's Legacy. 772-1404. 887 Westminster Ave. A general store selling exclusively ethical and fair trade products, including organic fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate, and organic cotton clothing.

Little Saigon. 333 William Ave. 947-3999. Vietnamese restaurant with a large vegetarian menu on the side. 

Mondragon Bookstore and Coffeehouse. 91 Albert Street. 946-5241. Fully vegan (except optional cow’s milk for coffee), organic, fair trade restaurant. Eclectic international menu. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

Nature's Nutrition Inc. 1819 Portage Ave. 889-2979. Has "fresh organic produce market" and sells hydroponic gardening supplies. 

Organic Bread Basket. 70 Kendale Drive. 269-0658. MVOCanada@OrganicBreadBasket.com. Despite the name, this is a strictly certified organic/humane meat market that wholesales local farmers’ products to foodstores and restaurants and takes bulk home orders. Features beef, bison, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, and wild turkey.

Organic Planet Worker Co-op. 877 Westminster Ave. (at Evanson). Ph: 772.8771.
This worker-owned and operated co-op foodstore offers an almost entirely organic selection of fresh produce, groceries, bulk foods, herbs. It also sells some fair trade products, including the lattés in its organic deli.

Organza Foods. 664 Corydon Ave. 453-6266. organzafoods@mts.net. This "complete organic food market" offers a wide, year round selection of fresh organic produce, organic groceries, bulk foods, baked goods, herbs, and nutritional supplements, and organic and humanely raised animal products. Also carries fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate, "earth friendly" household products, and includes a vegetarian Juice Bar and Veggie Deli.

Prairie Grass Fed Meats. 1-866-222-0822. Offers pastured poultry and grass-fed beef.

Prairie Sun Organic Market. "A combination farmer's market and fair celebrating all things organic in Manitoba." Annually (harvest time) at Red River Exhibition Park (Portage Avenue at the Perimeter Highway). Co-sponsored by the Organic Food Council of Manitoba. For more information: 888-6990, inquiry@redriverex.com, www.redriverex.com

Punjab Sweet House & Restaurant. 86 Mandalay Drive. 633-1600. This small East Indian restaurant features an approximately 50/50 vegan/lacto-vegetarian menu and a front counter replete with Indian sweets. Lunch & dinner buffet (partially vegan) are just $6.95. Open every day. 

Room To Grow. Box 478, Boissevain, MB. (204) 534-2303. roomtogrow@mts.net. This commercial greenhouse offers home delivery of certified organic bedding plants and herbs. Also offers "a strawbale guesthouse/retreat centre on an organically managed quarter section of prairie bush in the Turtle Mountains."

Save Your Fork . . .There is Pie Organic Food Buying Cooperative. 244 Hindley Ave. 255-6494. syf@mts.net. A friend- and family-founded organic food buying co-op that delivers to your home.

Stone-Ground Daily Bread. 1399 Pembina Highway. 474-5900. Wide selection of fresh organic baked goods, including vegan breads and pastries. 

Tall Grass Prairie Bread. 859 Westminster Ave. 783-5097. Wide selection of fresh organic baked goods, including vegan birthday cakes.

Ten Thousand Villages. 134 Plaza Dr. 261-6381. 8A–963 Henderson Hwy. 661-5545. These Mennonite Central Committee gift stores carry only fair trade products, including coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, dried fruit, sugar, jams and jellies.

Urban Ojas Restaurant and Juice Bar, 684 Osborne St., 953-1812. Emphasis on "whole foods locally and organically grown when available – no refined sugars, no refined grains, no refined flours and absolutely no additives." Eclectic cuisine. Vegetarian and nonvegetarian.

Vita Health. 102 Osborne St. (main store). 984-9551. Also has seven other locations around town. Wide selection of organic fresh and frozen produce, bulk foods (grains, beans, etc.), groceries, meat, dairy, and more.

Yenat Ethiopian Restaurant. 330 Ellice Avenue. 784-9267. Menu includes an ample vegan section. All vegan buffet, Monday through Friday, 11:30 - 2:30.

• Clinton and Pamela Cavers, Pilot Mound, MB, (204) 825-2465
• Bruce and Michaela Daum, Forrest, MB, (204) 727-8058
• Ed and Debra Hodgins, Lenore, MB, (204) 838-2009
• Scott & Jacoba Nault, Woodridge, MB, (204) 429-2281
• Ian Smith, Argyle, MB, (204) 467-8590

Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals

The Center for Informed Food Choices

Compassion in World Farming

Compassion Over Killing 

FARM

Farm Sanctuary

GRACE Factory Farm Project

The Humane Farming Association

Make Trade Fair

PETA

Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians

United Poultry Concerns

Vegan Outreach

Viva (US / UK)