Author: Nathalie Remond

Tagline: This year again on March 8th, the Food Issues Committee asked Karma’s staff for help identifying businesses run by women among Karma’s suppliers.

Supporting the suppliers who best meet our political, economic, environmental, and ethical goals is a key objective of Karma Co-op. So who are the people that we encourage through our purchases at the store? 

As the International Day of Women is about to be celebrated in many places around the world this year again on March 8th, the Food Issues Committee asked and wanted to thank Karma’s staff’s assistance in identifying businesses run by women among Karma’s suppliers:

• Jennifer Johnston of Fisherfolk 
• Ilana Kodorof of Sweets from the Earth
• Veronique Perez of Limonana
• Gita Bader of Zara Gourmet 
• Janet Diamond of Augie’s Pops
• Alba Lisa of Alba Lisa All Natural Mexican Food
• Rebekka Hutton of Alchemy Pickle Company

The review has emphasized the broad and value-driven visions and activities of the female entrepreneurs who supply Karma with delicious and healthy foods and drinks. 

These female-run businesses are based in or near the Greater Toronto Area.

• The fruit from Alexandra Soloman grows in the Golden Horseshoe, 
• the organic seeds from both Hannah Jacobs of Matchbox Garden & Seed Co and Colette Murphy of Urban Harvest. 
• In the body and home care sections, Karma carries skin care products from Sigrid, and products from Tracey Tief of Anarres, both based in Toronto. 

On the same shelves, members can find the following Montreal-area  snack bags from Lawrie Hawkins of Colibri and the reusable handkerchiefs and tea and coffee bags from Marie-Noël, Mélanie and Karine of Öko Creations, and, on the shelves closer to kitchen, more home and body care products from Anie Rouleau of The Unscented Company. These three female-ran suppliers are based in the Montreal area.

The Food Issues Committee would like to highlight one of these female-run suppliers in particular, Montreal-based Equifruit. Purchased by Jennie Coleman in 2013 from a mother-daughter team with whom she shared the same vision, Equifruit aims at improving the working and living conditions for banana workers in Central and South America. Jennie is prepared to “disrupt the whole banana industry” to achieve her goal. With the help of her growing team, she has achieved a major step in this direction : through a partnership started with Longo’s last year, Equifruit has helped the chain of supermarkets become the first major North American retailer to commit to selling 100% Fairtrade-only bananas throughout their 36 stores. The Food Issues Committee has acknowledged this breakthrough in a previous issue of the Chronicle. We consider it an amazing example of what Karma can support through the power that comes from the purchases of its members.

Congratulations, Equifruit!     

Happy International Women’s Day to Jennie Coleman and all of the other fabulous female entrepreneurs from Karma Coop in Toronto !