5 Local Favorites in the Refrigerated section

The next time you’re at the co-op, keep your eyes open for a little red sign with white font that reads, “Local.” This small but mighty label indicates something really special: the item it marks is locally produced and owned. And when we talk about Local, we mean it. All of our local products are sourced from within a 200 mile radius of each location.

People’s Food Co-op is not just a grocery store; it’s a community grocery store. PFC is community owned—by its owners, your neighbors and friends. Also, when you shop at PFC, you’re supporting Rochester, MN and La Crosse, WI area local farmers, producers, and business owners. Over 20% of our total sales come from local products. At PFC, more of your dollars stay in the area to grow our local economy. 

We want to draw your attention to some of the local products you might find in the store.  The refrigerated section has a bounty of offerings. We’re highlighting a few of them below.

Butter from Westby Creamery (La Crosse)

Since 1902, the Westby Cooperative has been farmer-owned and producing high-quality, award-winning cultured dairy foods. Their cheese curds are legendary in the Driftless region – and beyond. Each of their family farms is dedicated to doing what is best for the animals, the planet  - through conservation of natural resources and responsibly managing waste.

Located in the “Heart of Dairy Country” in Westby, WI, the creamery has operated on the same principle since day 1 – small production batches and top-quality milk make for a great product. Additionally, the creamery is a Farm Animal Care Program participant – meaning the Creamery has staff dedicated to helping farmers achieve the highest levels of herd comfort, health, and happiness.

Butter from Hope Creamery (Rochester)

The Hope Creamery slogan is “Butter that Betters the Bread.” Once you have a slice of fresh bread with a generous slather of Hope Creamery butter, you’ll know exactly why.

Located just south of Owatonna, MN, The Hope Creamery has been a local farmer cooperative since 1920. In 2001, local farmer Victor Mrotz purchased the creamery and is proud to carry on the tradition of making butter. The cream is purchased from Plainview Creamery who sources their milk from local dairy farmers.  

Small batch quantities are churned fresh every week. Unlike large butter producers, The Hope Creamery never freezes their product: they simply sell the butter they are able to make and keep no inventory. This ensures a truly fresh product.

Look for the butter sold in a solid one pound block with a blue or green cow on the front. Fun fact: Hope Creamery butter uses the original label from the 1920’s.

Hummus and Baba Ghanoush from Water Street Deli

Water Street Deli first opened in 2009 as a restaurant in Eau Claire, WI. Soon after, they became well known for their house-made hummus, pita chips, and baba ghanoush. These products were so well loved that in 2017, they closed the restaurant and began a full-scale operation to produce their fresh hummus and its sidekick, pita chips.

The precise recipe for the hummus is a tightly kept secret among the Water Street Deli team.  The recipes have been fine-tuned and passed down by the owner’s middle eastern family. Water Street Deli uses fresh, simple ingredients resulting in a quality product that you’ll reach for over and over. The hummus is available in a variety of flavors including: original, spicy garlic, and red pepper. Don’t forget to grab the baba ghanoush! This spread is similar to hummus but uses roasted eggplant instead of chickpeas.

Tortillas from La Perla Tortillas

“A meal isn’t a meal without a tortilla.” This is the family tradition that launched a business idea. José and Noemi Payan started La Perla in 1999 when they realized there was no place to find fresh tortillas in the northern states. José’s mother always had a passion for making fresh tortillas and dreamed of one day owning her own tortilleria.

José Payan was born in the Mexican state of Morelos.  When he was 14 years old, he came to the US looking for work. José moved throughout the US: first Houston, then Texas, next Pennsylvania - where he met his wife Noemi - and they finally settled in Minneapolis.  With 5 children and one on the way, José and Noemi worked low paying jobs to make ends meet. 

The couple had long dreamed of starting their own business and when they couldn’t find fresh tortillas to enjoy with their meals, their idea was born and José was able to fulfill his mother’s dream while fulfilling one of his own.  The business was first launched from a condemned building on Lake Street in Minneapolis the Payans had converted to their factory.  In 2006, it moved to its current location on 27th street in Minneapolis.

Kombucha from Northstar

Kombucha is a fermented slightly carbonated tea drink.  The beverage has grown in popularity over the last several years.  With its probiotic benefits, endless flavor varieties, and simple ingredients it’s easy to see why.  

Dan and Christina Fischer, owner of Northstar Kombucha, married their love of fermentation and design with Northstar Kombucha.  Simply put, they wanted something that looks as nice as it tastes.  The Fischers were inspired by and collaborated with other Minneapolis companies and are proud to have the roots of their business in Minnesota. 

Northstar Kombucha is brewed using only tea, fruits, herbs, and spices.  This allows them to create complex and unique flavors such as Grapefruit Basil, Cherry Elderberry, Lemon Ginger, and Citra Hop.

Bagels from St. Paul Bagelry

St. Paul Bagelry is a family owned and operated bagel shop with locations in Roseville, MNl and Minneapolis. Each day, St. Paul Bagelry makes over 3000 New York style bagels at their bagel shop in St. Paul.

Dodie and Peggy are the owners of St. Paul Bagelry. They are also sisters and friends.  Their goal is to always provide freshly made bagels that can be enjoyed and made available in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and throughout greater Minnesota.

Dodie and Peggy slowly perfected their all natural, no preservative bagel recipe and gained a popular following in the metro area. In 2016, the St. Paul Bagelry was named Best Bagels in the City Pages’ Best of MN. 

Find these bagels in the refrigerated section of People’s Food Co-op.  Don’t forget the cream cheese!