What's On Your Plate?
July 9, 2025
The sunny days of July - along with some thunderstorm drama and hopefully the sound of some gentle rains (AKA “the farmer’s lullaby”) to keep things green and growing - are such a pleasure. There are many ways to enjoy our community this month - from concerts in the park, outdoor sports, get-togethers with family and friends, taking a stroll along the riverbank or stopping for coffee on Broadway. If you are looking for new activity ideas of local events, check out the events calendar published by Planet S Magazine (another great local co-operative!). Whatever is on your plate: from big plans to a spur-of-the-moment inspiration - Steep Hill has a great selection of local, organic, healthy and Canadian products for your table or picnic basket seven days a week!
No Grocery Store on Broadway?!?
The notion that the Broadway area has no food store has again surfaced in various media reports on the recent demolition of the former Extra Foods building. While most readers of this newsletter know that Steep Hill has provided food and other necessities to the area for decades, the perception of Broadway as a food desert seems to be a persistent one outside the co-op’s community.
Every day, people come into the store and say, “I didn’t know you were here!” or “I didn’t know you sold ______!”. It’s wonderful to welcome new shoppers and introduce them to Steep Hill’s products, but for the store to be viable long term, its existence needs to be more widely known.
Word of mouth from members and other shoppers is incredibly valuable in accomplishing this. Talk about Steep Hill in your circles and communities, and if someone mentions that there’s no grocery store on Broadway, correct them and invite them to check out what Steep Hill has to offer. Broadway has had a small and vibrant grocery store for decades, and it’s time to spread the word!
Store Updates
Fresh local, certified organic produce from Our Farm YXE has started to come in. We’ve got some lettuce in to start with, and we’ll start seeing more of other produce types as these crops are harvested through July and the rest of the season. Our Farm XYE is located on 2.4 acres just outside of Saskatoon. You can’t get much more local than that!
Check the shelves and coolers for other local Saskatchewan offerings, including other produce, sauces, snacks and cool beverages!
Our long-time supplier of certified organic milk, Avalon, has temporarily switched to using returnable glass bottles only. Since they are located in BC, unfortunately this does not work for us. As soon as it’s available in cartons, we will bring it back in. Meanwhile, we’ve started carrying milk from Rolling Meadow Dairy from Ontario, which is from grass-fed cows, but is not certified organic. To learn more about Rolling Meadows cows and milk, visit their website.
We are working on bringing in ice cream, so you can enjoy a special treat during these hot summer days! Our challenge is that we have very limited freezer space. As other frozen items (such as our final big order of Carmen Corner pork products) sell and free up room in the freezer, we’ll fill that space with ice cream. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate the fun challenges of a small space and limited room!
And speaking of enjoying some lazy days of summer, our hard-working manager Amielle will be enjoying some vacation time in the next few weeks. If it takes a bit longer than usual to get a quote for a special order or a reply to your email, don’t worry – she’ll get back to everyone and follow up as soon as possible when she gets back.
Compost and Outdoor Volunteers Needed
Volunteers make the world go around… and we love ours! That said, we’re still in need of people willing to do a couple of specific jobs. The store generates compostable material that, both ethically and by law, needs to be appropriately disposed of. Two or more people willing to pick up a pail or two of compost every week would be incredibly helpful – just add it to your city green bin or your own home compost.
We are still in need of someone to do some work in the back – trimming the tree and weeding along the fence line. The weeding isn’t solely for aesthetic appeal; Steep Hill wants to be a good neighbour and not spread weeds and their seeds to other yards! The property isn’t large, so this task would likely take two hours at most. Weeding would need to be repeated later in the summer, but the tree would be fine until next year.
If you’re interested in any of these opportunities or have questions, please email Amielle directly hello@steephillfood.ca. Two hours of volunteer work gives you working member status for the following month, which provides you with the working member discount (6% off the shelf price). For in-store volunteer work, sign up for a shift in the store or by calling or emailing to request a shift.
Building a Better World Together
The United Nations has declared 2025 an International Year of Co-operatives, with the theme “Building a Better World Together”. In our own small way, that is what Steep Hill has strived to do since our founding members cooked up the idea back in 1978! The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) is putting together a series of leaflets about how co-ops build a better world. In Cooperatives as Engines of Social Justice, they explain how co-ops promote both social inclusion and social cohesion - which are much needed today’s world. “Social inclusion ensures equal access to opportunities, resources, and decision-making power, particularly for marginalized groups. It removes barriers related to economic status, gender, disability, ethnicity, or migration status. Social cohesion, meanwhile, is the foundation of strong communities, fostering trust, solidarity, and collective action. Societies with high social cohesion experience less conflict, greater resilience, and improved well-being for all.” To learn more please read Cooperatives as Engines of Social Justice: Strengthening Solidarity, Inclusion, and Cohesion through the Cooperative Model (PDF).
Broadway Block Parties!
This August, Broadway Avenue is the place to be! The Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) is hosting its much-anticipated Block Parties on Thursday nights – August 14, 21, and 28 – from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM between 10th and 12th Streets. These vibrant evenings will feature a night market, live music, street performers, and an open-air celebration of local art, culture, and community.
Each Thursday, Broadway will transform into a lively pedestrian zone filled with sidewalk sales, artisan booths, interactive performances, and more. It’s a perfect chance to connect with neighbours, discover local talent, and enjoy the best of summer in Saskatoon.
While you’re soaking in the sights and sounds, don’t forget to stop by Steep Hill Food Co-op! We’ll be open and ready to welcome you with fresh, local, and organic offerings. Whether you’re grabbing a healthy snack, picking up your weekly groceries, or just saying hello, we’d love to see you.
Shout out to the Broadway Business Improvement District (BBID) for their support this summer while the Broadway Bridge is closed.
Let’s celebrate summer together—on Broadway and at Steep Hill!
Have a Passion for Food and Teaching?
Last year, Steep Hill offered two popular workshops on cooking with lentils. This coming fall and winter, we’d like to offer more food and cooking related sessions and would love to hear from anyone interested in leading such an event. In terms of themes, (almost) anything goes – cooking specific items or using specific ingredients, how to use up random leftover veg, cultural dishes – the list is endless!
If you’re interested in facilitating a workshop or want to learn more about what this might entail, contact Amielle directly at hello@steephillfood.ca or at 306-664-4455.
Carnitas with Pico de Gallo Salsa
In the heat of summer, it’s cool and convenient to cook in a crock-pot and to make enough for several meals that can be eaten warm or cold. Carnitas checks on all points. It’s a Mexican pork roast cooked in orange and lime juice, with the smoky flavour of chipotle chili peppers. Wrap it in flour or corn tortillas with a cool fresh salsa called Pico de Gallo.
View Pico de Gallo Salsa Recipe
We Want to Hear From You!
For information about products and the store, email us at hello@steephillfood.ca or call 306-664-4455.
To contact the Board of Directors with ideas, feedback, concerns or questions, email board@steephillfood.ca or fill out a “How did we do today” card when you are in the store.
Thanks to Jasmin Carlton, Amielle Christopherson, Adam Douglas, Amy Jo Ehman, Cathy Holtslander, Maryann Scott, and Ann Smith for contributing to this Newsletter!
Your grocery store on Broadway!