About Sunnyside
Who We Are
Sunnyside Natural Market is an intimate neighbourhood market in the heart of Kensington.
We specialize in local and organic produce, organic and hormone free meat, organic dairy products, locally produced baked goods, organic grocery products, natural health and wellness products and life style/diet products such as gluten free, vegetarian/vegan.
Our Philosophy
Sunnyside Natural Market is committed to providing delicious, local and organic food to our customers. When local product is unavailable we will always deal with reputable certified organic wholesalers.
We are committed to supporting local & organic family farms. We recognize and value the importance of the family farm and will deal directly with farmers and producers whenever possible. This provides the freshest, most nutritious and delicious products for our customers and ensures a fair price for the farmer, while also decreasing the food miles associated with the food we eat, minimizing our greenhouse gas production.
We are committed to visiting as many of our local farmers as possible each year. This way we create relationships and community with the people and families who are growing our food. These visits also enable us to become informed to answer any questions you have regarding where and how your food is being grown, how animals are being treated. These farm visits also allow us to hang out with some of the nicest people we know, eat the most delicious meals, enjoy home made cheese, drink mead and be inspired by these wonderful people. Please visit our Meet Your Farmers page to see the many wonderful people who grow and produce our food.
We are committed to providing exemplary customer service. We strive to have all people who come into the market leave with a smile on their face and happier than when they came in.
We are committed to providing our employees with a supportive and fun work environment, a living wage, health benefits and profit sharing for full time staff.
Purchasing Ethics and Principles
At Sunnyside Natural Market, we believe wholeheartedly in supporting food producers who integrate business practices which encourage the health and vibrancy of our natural environment, our social communities and our personal health. Our commitment to local and/or organic producers is based on our belief that these criteria are fundamental to supporting food security, and accessibility. We consider not only the cost and quality of products but the social and environmental factors associated with each purchase. As a practical matter, we always take into account customer demand and continuity of supply. Sunnyside Market is publicly known for its ethical purchasing policies. Through these policies we are able to retain the trust and confidence of our customers. We support and value the following:
- Certified Organic
- Certified Bio-Dynamic
- Local (AB, BC, SK)
- Small-scale
- Fairly Traded
- Humane, Antibiotic and Hormone free animal products
- GMO free
To improve purchasing integrity, we additionally focus on products that are:
- Pesticide, Herbicide free
- Additive, Preservative, Artificial Flavour and Colour free
- Ecologically-harvested
- Dietary Alternatives (Dairy-free, gluten-free, meat-free)
It is thus our responsibility as purchasers to make informed decisions guided by these ethics, not merely to maintain the image of the store but to reinforce and support a sustainable food system from the producer to the consumer.