Opened in November 2014, Raise the Root Organic Market is Leslieville’s only organic grocer specializing in produce, dairy and packaged grocery items. JJ Sheppard and Angela Donnelly have owned and run Front Door Organics (a food delivery service) for 17 years. Being longtime Leslieville residents, the business partners found that certified organic produce was much too difficult to track down in the east end neighbourhood, and finally decided to open their own shop. Amy Wilson, who had previously worked with Front Door Organics, was happy to join the team as the third co-owner and the shop opened its doors within a mere two months after first snapping up the Queen Street East location.
All three co-owners have deep roots in the realm of food and healthy living. Amy is an entrepreneur who had studied herbal medicine at Punta Mona in Costa Rica, which she says “changed the way [she] thought about food.” Angela and JJ have extensive knowledge of the food industry and a large network of connections with the farming community. “Our skills are very complementary,” says Amy.
