the shortlist

ORGANIC SUPERMARKETS

Planet Organic, 42 Westbourne Grove, London W2: an American-style organic supermarket selling everything from tinned foods, oils and rice to fish and meat, complete with in-store juice bar. Be prepared for a "have a nice day" toothy grin at the check-out. Open 9am-8pm Mon to Sat; 11am- 5pm Sun. Tel: 0171 221 7171.

Out of This World, Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road, Bristol: Britain's first green supermarket chain has been trading since November 1995 and already has stores in Bristol, Newcastle and Nottingham. Run as a co-operative, it sells fairly-traded, environmentally-friendly ethical and organic produce ranging from wine, beer, fruit and veg to ketchup, chocolate and garden supplies. Open 9am-6pm Mon, Tues, Wed and Sat; 9am- 8pm Thurs and Fri. Tel: 0191 272 1601.

Leicester Wholefood Supermarket, Unit 3, Freehold Street, Leicester: 4,000 sq ft supermarket and warehouse specialises in organic fruit and veg, dairy produce and organic wines and beer. They have regular organic wine tastings. The fruit and veg is imported from around the world and, depending on season, prices range from the same cost as non-organic to twice the price. Open 9.30am-6pm Mon to Thurs; 9.30am-7pm Fri; 9.30am- 5.30pm Sat. Tel: 0116 251 2525.

Wholefood Ltd, 24 and 31 Paddington Street, London W1: the Wholefood butcher's sells beef, pork, lamb, poultry, wildfowl and game in season, and the greengrocer's offers fruit and veg, dried goods and a range of books on nutrition. Open 9am-6pm Mon to Thurs; 9am- 6.30pm Fri; 9am-1pm Sat. Tel: 0171 935 3924.

Neal's Yard Bakery, Covent Garden, London WC2: the company that brought organic food to the city still has a superb bakery and dairy although the original food store has sold out to the unexceptional Holland and Barratt chain. Organic breads (around pounds 1.20) are baked on the premises. Flavours include cheddar cheese and herb and sunflower seed and honey. Open 10.30-5pm Mon to Sat. Tel: 0171 836 5199.

Neal's Yard Dairy, Covent Garden, London WC2: organic cheeses include Tiefi (Welsh gouda cheese), Orla (Irish sheep's cheese), Loch Arthur (Scottish cheddar) and St Tola (Irish goats' cheese). Also sells organic jams, mustards and pickles. Open 9am-7pm Mon to Sat; 10am-5pm Sun. Tel: 0171 379 7646.

Growing With Nature, Bradshaw Lane Nursery, Pilling, Lancashire: "Healthy fresh food for local people" is the stout motto of this home delivery company. For pounds 7.50 or pounds 10 they will deliver a "Grower's Choice Box Scheme" of seasonal organic fruit and veg to the Lake District, Bolton, Chester and South Manchester. Call Mon or Tues 9am-1.30pm for delivery Thurs or Fri. Tel: 01253 790046.

Bumblebee Natural Foods, 30-33 Brecknock Rd, London N7: a one-shop business that has gone on to buy up three more shops close by: a greengrocer's and dairy, bakery and sandwich shop, off-licence, and health and beauty. Prices about 20-25 per cent higher than non-organic produce, depending on the season. Open 9.30am-6.30pm Mon to Sat; 9.30am-8pm Thurs. Tel: 0171 607 1936.

Organic Health, 23 Market Street, Heanor, Derbyshire: you want the good life? You've got it in a little village shop that sells more than 600 lines of organic foods from fruit, veg, meat and dried goods to exotic hampers (pounds 7.50 to pounds 25). A hamper mail- order catalogue will be available from 1 October. Open 9am-5pm Mon and Tues, Fri and Sat; 9am-1pm Wed; 9am- 7pm Thurs (when they get fresh organic bread from the village bakery). Tel: 01773 717718.