Say please to soy cheese, ethically raised meats, and a honey of a sauce.

Cheese gets coy with soy
Scotland and Pemberton, B.C., both have a reputation for great dairy cows. But they’re also linked in the nondairy world. Skyranch Foods of Pemberton imports Sheese, a soy-based product from Scotland’s Isle of Bute. This is no bland mush. Blue, Gouda, and strong and hickory-smoked cheddars are among the selections. Skyranch even offers recipes, such as a Recession Quesadilla and a Lemon Coconut Sheesecake. Sheese is available at IGA, Choices Markets, Donald’s Market, and elsewhere, for about $8.99 per 227-gram package.

A smarter cookie
Long known for its line of specialty Western Canadian flours, Anita’s Organic has launched two cookie mixes: chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. The paper-bag packaging brims with all the goodness one cookie can handle. All of the ingredients are organic, and the flour is whole-wheat. Company president John MacKenzie will give you a free bag of the stuff if you come to Anita’s Organic Retail Market (43615 Yale Road, Chilliwack) and pledge him for the annual Team Diabetes ride. The mixes (which yield 12 to 14 cookies) will soon be available at Capers Whole Food Markets, at $4 for 350 grams.

Resistin’ ditchin’ the latte?
Order a chai at some cafés and you get a weaker, disappointing version of the spicy Indian original. But Red Espresso doesn’t pretend to be anything but what it is: South African rooibos tea, minced perfectly to be pulled through an espresso machine. Boasting five times the antioxidants of green tea, a shot of Red Espresso—which features a surprisingly hearty crema—is also naturally caffeine-free. Proponents of rooibos claim the tea soothes digestive problems and anxiety too. Red Espresso drinks are served at Delaney’s, Beans on Lonsdale, Wicks Café, and Take 5 Café, and 250-gram bags are available for home use ($16.50 to $17.95).

Can’t beat real meat
Based on the North Shore, the family-owned Two Rivers Specialty Meats is expanding its home-delivery business. Owners Zach Wilczewski and Jason and Margot Pleym started sourcing naturally and ethically raised meats just over a year ago. So far, much of their business has been with restaurants, including Bishop’s. But the demand for hormone- and antibiotic-free meat for home use surprised them. Their 10 B.C.–based farms raise free-range heritage pork, all-natural chicken, cage-free duck, and more. For details on products and pricing, call 604-990-5288 or e-mail info@tworiversmeats.com.

Just can’t give up the sauce?
Why drown your heritage pork—or organic tofu cutlet—in a sloppy sauce? Up north in Alberta’s Peace Country, the family-owned Wolfe Honey uses a German-inspired apiary to produce organic honey. Now they’ve put the golden food to work in their new Amazing Dad’s BBQ Sauce under the brand Honey Bunny. Their Bodacious Tomato Ketchup is also sweetened with honey. Featuring all-organic ingredients, the low-waste packages are available at Capers Community Market and Stong’s Market, at about $7.79 for 500 millilitres.

Chips without the waterlogged hips
Canadians eat about twice as much salt as we should, increasing our risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Let’s be clear: the locally produced Hardbite Potato Chips contain salt, but only about half as much as other chips. As president Sepp Amsler explained to the Straight, it’s Himalayan salt—the only non-B.C.-based ingredient in the chips—which means a much saltier flavour with far less sodium. If you hear sodium and think sodi-Yum, try the new coconut curry flavour. In moderation. Hardbite is also transfat- and cholesterol-free. Available at Choices Markets and elsewhere for about $2.69 for 150 grams.