When it comes to grocery shopping, Green's Market is not conveniently located in our neighbourhood. Despite this, every other week we like to hoof it up to Broadway to check out their shelves - and perhaps our main reason for doing so is their meat department. They have some savvy butchers on staff who take special care with sourcing, and who offer many special items that you just can't find at other supermarket type retail.

As a shop that specializes in organic and natural products, Green's policy is to purchase only hormone- and medication-free, ethically raised meat. They also do their best to buy from local suppliers.  (Much of their pork, for example, comes from Sloping Hill and Gelderman Farms - the same people who supply many of the top restaurants in town, and in the case of Gelderman's, the Farmers Market.)  All good. But the extra value that really makes them worth a trip is the fact that, like a true dedicated butcher shop, they cure and smoke their own products in-house. Because of this, you'll find less mainstream cuts in their refrigerator cases such as smoked ham hocks, or the lamb bacon pictured above.

The Greens buchers also eschew nitrates in their meat preserving, hence charcuterie is a tad saltier than the commercial brands, but it comes minus a lot of the nasty chemical stuff too. The lamb bacon is particularly delicious, and with a substantial package priced under $4, it's also affordable.

Happily, making things just a little more convenient, the Greens meat department has just started its own twitter account @greensbutcher, so you can keep informed as to new items and specials.

As a matter of fact, today their bacon is selling for 10% off.