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• My Favourite Store - A Community

Earth's General Store (EGS) is celebrating 25 years of business in Edmonton this week! When I first moved to this city, I felt like the only vegetarian let alone vegan. I would go to EGS when I was in the area, before it was a full-fledged grocery store. They offer almost an entire aisle of frozen vegan options (only one shelf has butter on it), and that is their entire freezer section! The non-vegan items at this location are about the same in volume to what most grocery stores provide for their entire vegan options - luckily, other grocery stores are changing! The selection of organic and fair-trade products is also amazing and important to how this store is run. The bulk items are extensive. They encourage you to bring in your own container, have it weighed before you fill it, and filled with liquid refills by the staff, or dry items yourself. The quality is usually the best available, and the price is most often the lowest in the area! They rotate their stock accordingly, too, so I always trust the freshness! They have a limited offering of raw vegan snacks and treats. The produce is fresh, local (when possible), and 100% organic! I can remember my first visit there. As soon as I walked up the stairs (of the old location), I was greeted with acceptance and welcomed into the community of people who care, with their wealth of knowledge about how we can help our planet. Several years ago, they moved down the street (by bicycle!) into a larger location and expanded to carry groceries. The community hub remains today, and the staff is still quite knowledgeable. As a "regular," I have to give myself more time for a visit every time I buy my groceries, but they're also attentive to new customers. The parking lot is often home to many inspiring groups raising awareness and funds for some pretty amazing causes. I couldn't imagine surviving Alberta without this business, and the investment it continuously makes into my community. Thank you, EGS, for being the longest-running vegetarian store in Alberta before other businesses even knew what "vegetarian" meant. Thank you for 25 years of service in this community!