Farmer's Pick: Your Friendly Neighbourhood Market

		Store Directions >>>


	Great ways to cut your food bill. >>>		Where we are, when we're open, and more. >>>		Get to know the Farmer's Pick team. >>>		Cooking tips from asparagus to zucchini. >>>

Stephane

Stephane, the Greengrocer

I can't remember a time when I wasn't working with fruit and veg. I got into the business at 14, with a part-time job in a produce store. I started out sweeping and packing and ended up doing every job in the store. I was still a teenager when I began managing the place.

I learned about food from the last of the great produce guys. Harry Weltman was his name. What a character. He used to go nuts if he saw somebody mishandling food. But he knew everything about the business and most of what I know, I learned from him.

Harry taught me how to look for the good stuff. Today, most buyers only care about price and appearance. But Harry showed me how to find produce that tastes great and will last a long time in the customer's fridge. That's what I do today.

• Meet the Owner
• Meet the Greengrocer
• Meet the Butcher
• Meet the Cheese Guy
• Meet the Deli Man
• Meet FNG Italian Bakery

The farmers and suppliers know what I want. They know that I want the good stuff and that if they get it for me they'll earn my business. I'll get a call, "Hey, Stephane! I've got really terrific cherries, let me send you some." And when they get here, they'll be great. Because these guys know that I see every piece of produce that comes in here, I unpack and display a lot of it, and I talk to my customers after they've taken it home and served it to their family.

Plus I can pay them a little extra for the good stuff, too. We're so much leaner than the big chain stores. I don't have a warehouse and trucks to pay for. I don't have buyers on salary. So I can buy higher quality produce and sell it for less.