Fiesta Farms
200 Christie Street
416-537-1235

I love buying groceries - it represents freedom (I can get whatever I want!), the thrill of the on-sale find, and even a bit of luxury (I deserve the $8 cheese this week!). But the lustre can wear off, especially in the winter months when the produce is uninspiring and trekking through snow with overloaded bags is a huge pain.

Luckily I’ve found a way to stay inspired even though the temperature is dropping: Fiesta Farms. It’s Toronto’s largest independent grocery store and is like a health food store, farmer’s market, and foodie destination rolled into one. It’s been getting major props (NOW, CityBites) since partnering with Local Food Plus, an organization that certifies farmers and processors, and helps get sustainable food to consumers. I finally got a chance to check out Fiesta Farms a few weeks ago and felt like I had stumbled across one of the city’s best kept (although maybe not anymore) secrets.

While it’s not much to look at on the outside, Fiesta Farms is neatly organized inside and has a cozier feel than the grocery megastores I’m used to perusing. The glorious produce section sits in the middle of the store, under a large green canopy, and beckons me to buy vegetables I don’t usually give a second glance - turnips, say, and romaine lettuce. There are loads of fresh herbs and greens, an impressive organic apple selection and a bunch of items I usually have difficulty locating - like those baby carrots with the long stems and sunflower sprouts (from Toronto Sprouts). The Local Food Plus symbol conveniently points out food that’s grown in Ontario’s Greenbelt.

In the dairy section, there’s milk in glass bottles (so pretty!), along with other local goodies like Black River cheese from Prince Edward County (the one-year-old cheddar is delicious) and Saugeen Country organic yogurt. There’s a large selection of hearty juices - pomegranate, Hawthorn, carrot, black cherry - alongside trusty Tropicana OJ. The deli and bakery are also hits, with Sunflower Kitchen hummus and soups, a huge antipasto bar, and bread baked in-house.

As I wander around the remainder of the store - which is not as crazy-busy as most supermarkets are on the weekend - I’m constantly stopping my cart to check out interesting-looking products. The international foods aisle boasts chiles and refried beans, Japanese marinades, and the popular Y+Y brand of Asian ingredients. There is also an Italian contingent of products, including cakes and cream-filled cookies, and tubes of vanilla beans can be found in the checkout line.

Products and brands that are normally reserved for health food stores are also well-represented and well-priced at Fiesta Farms, which is a godsend for people like me who are too often lured in by on-sale junk food at No Frills. Instead, I find myself buying bags of quinoa and pearl barley from Bob’s Red Mill and throwing a two-pound bag of almonds in the cart. Ahhhhh health. The Verified Vegetarian Choice eggs are another star eco-conscious product - they ensure animal welfare, as well as no drugs, hormones, or antibiotics.

By now, the point is clear. This store is worth checking out, not only for the food, but for the sustainable product selection and the support for local farmers and provisioners. Take that, winter grocery-shopping blues!