This place is a must stop for those who venture to Pender Island! If you want delicious pre-made…read moremeals - dips - soups, a fantastic cheese selection, baked goods, condiments galore, and a multitude of goodies - this is your place! Someone named Amanda (I assume is the owner) makes the most amazing dips! We got them all along with cheeses and meets for an epic charcuterie board. My favourite was the pimento, and French onion dips. My friend loved the artichoke and salsa (note - this was heavily cumin forward). We also got their hummus which is basic (and is named so). My fave cheese was their garlic herb cheese but we didn't go wrong with their variety. I also got all the vegetarian alternatives here! Well priced and stocked! I regret not getting their in-house backed tortilla chips! They offered samples that I tried on my way out! Rookie mistake! Don't miss this place! It's a must when visiting the island!

* My kind of store *…read more Ok, if I lived on Pender Island this is DEFINITELY where I would be doing my grocery shopping. This little store focuses heavily on organic and ethnic foods. The selection was quite impressive. In fact it looked like a mini version of Famous Foods in Vancouver (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/famous-foods-vancouver#hrid:WwIBf4hsEi5WU0nm1P3hJQ), and the prices were not terribly much higher than Famous Foods - which is amazing considering it is a small store on an island with high transportation costs. The prices for items which were also available at the bigger Tru Value (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/tru-value-foods-pender-island#hrid:HIXC7EuR2wBNHJFzCksezA) were actually lower here for things like organic milk, eggs, etc. What a pleasant surprise. There were also Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Polish, German, Italian, and other products making for a very nice selection. I get the impression they will source whatever people request as well if there is something you need. Nice little store!

Great, superlatively clean and amply stocked local grocery store…read more The staff are all very helpful and friendly. Whilst I've enjoyed their fresh cut sandwiches before boarding the ferry, the fourth star is awarded based solely on their carrot cake. Until eating Orcas Island Market's carrot cake, I thought the best carrot cake I'd ever eaten was served at the restaurant atop Sax Fifth Avenue, New York. Potential carrot-cake connaisseurs should note that cakes are rotated daily albeit carrot cake is not offered daily. If you visit in the day carrot cake is served, buy a generous slice and enjoy.

We stopped here for a few odds and ends that we needed for dinner and found a hidden gem--Woody's…read moreTaproom! Wine, cider, and beer on tap in a grocery store! They had our favorite Finn River cider on tap, and for $5/pint?!? Yes please! They also had some yummy food available, but we had just eaten, so...next time for sure!! The service was friendly, quick, and really reasonably priced! You're in a grocery store, but it was a quiet, clean, and fun place to escape the cold and rain for a few minutes!

We couldn't get enough of this place during our brief time on Saltspring Island. We stayed at the…read morehotel directly across from Thrifty Foods, and though most things were closed for the holidays- Thrifty was an open shining healthy beacon. I stocked up on organic trail mixes, kombucha, blueberries, stevia, matcha, and much more during my excited visits here. This place has everything that you could dream of - when it comes to health related goods and products. Their staff are laid back and they let you peruse everything without bothering you - so definitely feel free to take your time in here. I'm a firm believer that a quality grocery store can truly help shape the culture of a small town. Saltspring is blessed to have such a phenomenal resource like Thrifty Foods. Though there are plenty of lovely local farms on this magical island - it's nice to have a haven where you stock up on produce, essential oils, and other bulk items. Trust.

When I imagine the lady or gentleman who dictates the prices of groceries at this SSI stop, I…read morepicture an evil genius in a dark and shadowed room cackling "THE POWER!". ... there are only a few spots to snag groceries on the island and mmmaaannn can you tell. If you're spending a few nights or over from the mainland - expect sticker shock to hit you like a freight train. And our American friends? Bring someone with you to speak soothingly while you shop... It's expensive. Ridiculously expensive. But beyond that, it's your pretty standard grocery store. The pros: 1. To balance the exorbitant grocery costs, they have some seriously stunning deals on produce. $1 for a quart of strawberries?! 0.98/lb for oranges?! Hot damn. The money you save will buy your $2.99 SINGLE AVOCADO. 2. They have really good, fresh baked gluten free bread. 3. They carry Krema Honeylicious. Bonus points every time. And goat's milk yogurt which can be tricky to track. 4. Everyone who works there is SUPER cheerful. Actually most people on SSI are super cheerful. Must be something in the air... It's one of two. So you're just going to have to deal with it. But hey, look at the positives and stuff your gullet with strawberries.

Market Place saves me from having to make full-day grocery journeys off-island to Whole Foods or…read moreTrader Joe's so for that I'd give them ten stars if I could. Their vegan, organic, etc selection is surprisingly expansive as well as reasonably priced and their bulk bin section is so well-organized. Veggies always look great and are high quality. It's nice having locally grown sprouts and mixed greens available as well. They even have some lovely locally produced soaps, salt, and other items if you're looking for good gifts. Employees are friendly and helpful, check-out lines usually move pretty quickly, most of the time there is ample parking, and the restrooms are clean.

Best sandwiches!! My…read morepicky kid loved their marbled bread with ham and cheese so much we went back the next day and got another one. They have a wonderful hot food selection with such aromatic soups and tasty nibbles. In addition to the sandwiches, we got breakfast scrambled eggs with veggies, bacon and potatoes!! Yum.

Adorable, heaps of selection and the best produce. Staff were friendly and helpful. I love that…read morethey rent DVDS! Great local products, soaps, candles, coffee, honey. Pricing was normal. Great spot

Since the early 80s this once mobile fresh veg & fruit hippy stand turned into a staple store for…read morethe island keeping the huge mobile truck thats hidden but still attached to the back of the building and is used as part of the day to day operation. The market has the largest organic fresh veg fruit meat & dairy selection on the island. The friendly cool and trendy staff keep the store packed with local produce. A sure stop for most all your needs, including a small movie rental section.

I love this store. Their deli counter is a great place for lunch, and the dining area out front is…read morereally pleasant. We came back every day and noticed a lot of the same cars coming and going - so others were doing the same. Samosas and baked goods stand out.

While visiting our friends who are new home owners a short distance away, we walked over to this…read morecute little store where I felt right at home! From fresh veggies to a lovely deli to canned goods to frozen organic meats (and meat alternatives), it's worth a visit! I walked over by myself to even have a cup of coffee and hangout!

This is a great place to buy raw or cooked crab spot prawns and oysters for your boatread more

How can you beat fresh seafood on the Marina dock? Get your own LOL! Check it out, and enjoy!!read more