“What we need is a Karma-like co-operative in every neighbourhood in North America,” Jane Jacobs, Toronto’s famed urbanist, once said.
Karma Co-op, a squat brick building tucked away on Karma Lane in the Annex, is Toronto’s last remaining retail grocery co-op. Founded in 1972, it’s a democratically run, non-profit store selling local, ethical products.
Being a co-operative means Karma is owned and governed by its 700 active members. You can shop at Karma without a membership, but members pay $50 annually (or $20 for students) and get discounts and have a say in how the co-op runs. Membership fees support building maintenance and running community events on gardening, fabric repair, tech repair, and budget shopping.
Karma’s product policy favours vendors that practise environmental sustainability, fair working conditions, and co-operative principles. “We try to honour the land, each other, and the workers behind every product,” says Robin Kortright, a member of Karma’s food issues committee.
“Our members want to know where their food comes from,” adds Zach Weingarten, Karma’s general manager. “That’s why we prioritize fresh, responsibly grown food and long-term relationships with producers.”
Today, just five companies control three-quarters of all grocery sales in Canada.
Meanwhile, independent grocery stores face rising costs and shrinking margins. Under this pressure, the GTHA’s other retail food co-ops have shut their doors. Parkdale’s West End Food Co-op shut in 2018 when its building was reclaimed by its owners. Hamilton’s Mustard Seed Coop went bankrupt in 2021. The Berry Road Food Co-op, planned for Etobicoke, never opened due to COVID.
Karma’s groceries might not be the lowest-priced in Toronto. But as a member, I know my dollars back ethical suppliers, fair wages, and a food system that puts people and planet before profit.
This article appeared in the 2025 Summer issue.
