At the co-op, local is at the heart of what we do.
We define “local” as food and products grown, produced, or processed within a five-state area that includes Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. We know our local farmers and locally-owned businesses personally – we visit their kitchens and farms and love seeing exactly where our food comes from and how it’s grown, raised, and made. When you choose local, not only does it taste better (thanks to shorter travel distances!) but more of your food dollars stay in our local community.
Hoyo Sambusa
Bloomington, MN
“Hoyo,” which means “mother” in Somali, was founded on the goal of employing and empowering Somali women. They hire moms to make one of their favorite dishes, sambusas. This way, they are able to share a piece of their culture with the Twin Cities community while also providing for their families. Their recipe originates from Halima, a mother of six, and each sambusa is hand-folded, allowing you to experience traditional and authentic Somali cuisine.
In Town Sushi
Minneapolis, MN
Owner Than Zaw has been supplying sushi to Minnesotans for over a decade. In Town Sushi’s chefs are traditionally trained and make fresh, authentic sushi and poke bowls every morning. They handle their ingredients with great care and source from local suppliers.
Jajja Wellness
Excelsior, MN
Jajja Margaret Luttaaya was born in 1939 in Uganda. She was a pioneer, mixing ancient indigenous wisdom, organic fruits and other healthful ingredients to make and sell her delicious wellness tonics. Her energy and love went into every bottle. Today, Jajja’s grandson, Henry, carries on her legacy, making those same wellness tonics for all to enjoy.
Kadejan
Glenwood, MN
Kadejan began custom processing pheasants and hens in 1989 for local area farmers and developing a market for their products in Twin Cities-area fine dining establishments. As they were working with various local chefs, many began asking for free-range hens. Kadejan chickens are raised naturally in small flocks, are free roaming and never caged, and are fed whole grains.
La Perla Tortilleria
Minneapolis, MN
After husband and wife Jose and Noemi Payan moved to Minnesota from Chicago in 1994, they quickly realized that there were no tortillerias to be found. They decided to make and sell their own tortillas under the name La Perla, meaning “the pearl.” Today, they have dozens of employees, multiple locations, and make and sell more tortillas than anyone else in the city!
Larry Schultz Organic Farm
Owatonna, MN
Larry Schultz’s family has been using organic farming methods since his great-grandfather first moved onto their land in Owatonna. He prides himself on selling the freshest eggs possible — they’re candled and graded the same day as they’re laid! Schultz free-range, organic turkeys and chickens are fed organic flax seeds, small grains, pasture grasses and bugs, making for happy birds, flavorful poultry, and rich colored egg yolks.
Living Water Gardens
Wells, MN
Owned by the Klingbeil family, Living Water Gardens is located roughly 100 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. They grow 7,000 tomato plants and other annual vegetables using hydroponics in an acre-sized greenhouse. This growing method uses nutrient-rich water instead of soil and allows them to extend Minnesota’s short growing season. In the winter, they use recycled wooden shipping pallets (that would otherwise end up in a landfill) to heat the greenhouse. This agricultural system means they’re able to deliver a variety of fresh, ripe tomatoes grown locally to the co-op from April through December each year.
Marieke Gouda
Thorp, WI
Marieke was born and raised in the Netherlands where she grew up on her parents’ 60-cow dairy farm. After moving to the U.S., she started a 350-cow dairy farm and began producing authentic Dutch gouda in Thorp, Wisconsin. In 2015, Marieke was the first woman to win the Wisconsin outstanding young farmer award. The equipment, cultures, herbs and spices she uses are all imported from Holland. Milk for Marieke’s Gouda is rBGH-free and comes from nearby Penterman Farm cows, directly from the first milking of the day.
Milton Creamery
Milton, IA
Milton Creamery is the result of a dream — a dream of doing something to help others in the agricultural world and beyond, adding value to milk for dairy farmers, creating jobs in the local community, and bringing you a product created with art and passion from Southeast Iowa.
Organic Valley
Western WI
Organic Valley is a farmer-owned co-op that supports rural communities by protecting the health of family farms while working toward economic and environmental sustainability. Founded over 25 years ago in Wisconsin’s Coulee Region at a time when small farmers were given the message to get big or get out, seven farmers came together on a mission to change the way people thought about food. Today, their co-op has grown to include over 1,800 family farms that produce some of the highest-quality local dairy products available.