Tru Value Foods

Tru Value Foods opened its Mayne Island store in 1996, at a time when fresh meat and quality produce were hard to come by on the island. Over the following decade, as islanders' appetite for organic food grew, the store built its reputation on freshness and organic produce.

Today it serves Mayne's year-round residents and the several thousand visitors who arrive each summer, and it aims to hold its own against Victoria and Vancouver on price and selection. The store's motto is simple: if you don't see it on the shelves, just ask. Store manager Marcus Farmer works to keep it a friendly place for staff and customers alike.

The Mayne Island store is part of Tru Value Foods, a small group of community-focused grocery stores on the Gulf Islands. Giving back is built into how it runs: shoppers choose a local cause or charity at checkout, and a share of the proceeds goes to the causes they pick.