1. Iain Brynjolson
2. Nick Ternette
3. TIE Jamil Mahmood/Michael Champagne

As the global economy lacks stability, proper nutrition is becoming more difficult to access due to high costs of whole and natural foods. Iain Brynjolson stresses the importance of making healthy food accessible to everyone, and strives to make this a reality in Winnipeg's inner-city.

On a day-to-day basis, Brynjolson works as the produce manager at Neechi Commons (865 Main St.), a community business complex recently developed in Winnipeg to foster North End neighborhood revitalization and to provide economic opportunities for Aboriginal youth and other area residents.

Brynjolson's involvement with local food accessibility doesn’t stop there. He’s the founder of Food For Folks, the fresh produce market and grocery store at the Winnipeg Folk Festival campground, a not-for-profit enterprise which reinvests back into North End food security.

"I do what I do because I think it's fun to be physically active working outdoors and I like working with young people," Brynjolson says.

The 24-year-old also organizes Eat Street, a food security magazine and community broadcast on food security which will see its official launch in January 2014.

Brynjolson is also a vendor at the Main Street and West Broadway farmers markets, which create access for buyers, wages for youth harvesting and sell affordable local vegetables in the inner city.

To top off this impressive list, Brynjolson is involved with the establishment, planning the maintenance of a number of garden sites in the North End.

Brynjolson is passionate about his achievements and is eager to educate.

“To stabilize our community and our economy, we all need access to affordable healthy food,” Brynjolson says. “I want to grow so many gardens, pass on knowledge of processing and preserving, and spread the message of self sufficiency.”

Showcasing community involvement at its finest, there’s no question that Brynjolson takes pride in his work and is committed to rebuilding and sustaining the health of Winnipeg's inner-city one vegetable at a time.

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 68, Number 14 of The Uniter (December 4, 2013)