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.
Sartori Cheese
Plymouth, WI
Started in 1939, Sartori Cheese is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated farm. For over 75 years, they’ve offered some of the best tasting, award-winning cheese on the local market. The Sartori family share a deep sense of connection to the land, including a strong farm-to-fork ethos. Many of the family farmers they partner with to obtain milk for making cheese have had long-standing, multi-generational relationships with the Sartori family.
Shiro’s African Boutique
Minneapolis, MN
Shiro’s African Boutique is owned and operated by Mary Kuria. Shiro’s Jewelry is handmade by independent artists in Kenya and features recycled, traditional materials such as coconut shells, beadwork, various woods, bones, banana fiber and horn. Shiro’s always uses hypoallergenic earring loops made of recycled metals.
So Good So You
Minneapolis, MN
Founded by Rita Katona, So Good So You wellness juice shots are a convenient and delicious way to get a nutrient-dense boost of superfoods that help you meet your health goals. With organic ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, every sip supports a healthier you and a happier planet!
Sola’s Butters
St. Paul, MN
Sola’s Butters was founded by Abisola J-Peterson in 2016. She was determined to find natural ways to soothe and heal her dry skin and eczema symptoms. Recalling her childhood in Nigeria, when her mother used Indigenous resources for skin care, she was able to tap into the powerful benefits of raw shea butter. This resulted in Sola’s Butters, a line of high-quality, natural, and effective skin and haircare products.
Sunleaf Naturals
Waconia, MN
Teresa Andrys spent her career developing products for national companies. She witnessed incredible waste, misleading labels, and vast amounts of synthetics, petrochemicals and fillers going into our environment and our bodies. In 2007, Teresa created Sunleaf Naturals, a fresh line of truly natural products. Sunleaf is a locally owned company dedicated to making fresh, plant-based products for home use. They donate 5% of profits to water conservation efforts and pollinator research and formulate their products to be 100% biodegradable, using only recyclable and compostable packaging.
Tempeh Tantrum
Minneapolis, MN
Tempeh Tantrum hand makes fresh East Javanese-style tempeh in small batches. They start with local organic soybeans, culture them, and follow a custom fermentation process that transforms soybeans and black beans into firm, savory cakes that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Tempeh Tantrum currently makes two types of tempeh, including soy tempeh and soy-free black bean tempeh, which go great in sandwiches, salads, stir fries, sauces, and more.
Thousand Hills Cattle Co.
Clearwater, MN
Thousand Hills Cattle Company nourishes soil, plants, cattle and people by holistically grazing cattle. Their 100% grass-fed cattle management practices are good for animals, people and the planet, and promote long-term health, wellness and environmental sustainability. They have strict standards for their heritage breed, free-range, grass-fed beef and pride themselves on raising the highest quality cattle, which are never given antibiotics, artificial hormones, GMOs, grain or grain byproducts.
Tree-Range Farms
Northfield, MN
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, CEO and founder of Tree-Range Farms is pioneering regenerative poultry farming on his 65-acre family farm, Salvatierra Farms. Inspired by ancestral knowledge from Guatemala, he’s restoring the land with native species like hazelnut and elderberries, creating a diverse ecosystem. This poultry-centered approach revolves around restoring the chicken’s ancestral habitat while integrating various enterprises like timber, biomass, and organic matter. Collaborating with the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance (RAA), they aim to build community and capacity, working with emerging farmers, including women, veterans, and immigrants. Their goal is to create a more inclusive and accessible food system.
Triple Crown BBQ
Minneapolis, MN
Created from scratch and refined to perfection over 15 years, Richard Schaaf entered his BBQ sauce at the Minnesota State Fair, where it went on to win three blue ribbons. Now made in small batches in Minneapolis, Triple Crown BBQ’s award winning sauce is available to BBQ enthusiasts craving a tangy, sweet sauce that doesn’t compromise on quality ingredients.
Twin Organics
Northfield, MN
Twin Organics is a certified organic vegetable farm run by brothers Jacob and Andrew Helling. Twin Organics believes in healthy soil and sustainable practices. They begin with high-quality plants nurtured in their greenhouses, then transplant or direct-seed them into rich organic soil that has been carefully cultivated over many growing seasons. Twin Organics provides local, certified organic vegetables, grown and packed with care.