Loyal to Local Food for 50 Years
Since 1975, Lakewinds has supported local farmers and makers who share our dedication to people and the planet. In the early days of the co-op, then known as the Minnetonka Buyer’s Club, we purchased dried goods, cheese, and bread locally, with owners helping to package and shelve. Our local and small-scale approach allowed the co-op to provide delicious, fresh food sustainably.
With the support of our shoppers and owners, our commitment to local has only grown. Today we strive to provide locally sourced options where possible for everything from dairy to grains to meat — even local salmon, thanks to Wisconsin-based Superior Fresh! Meet three local producers who help us sustain our tradition of being loyal to local.
Ames Farm
Where would we be without bees? Supporting pollinators is core to the mission at Ames Farm, which bottles raw, unfiltered, and single-source honeys. Bottling the honey raw and unpasteurized maintains its healthy enzymes and nutrients.
Native pollinators are under threat across the globe. To help reverse this trend, Ames launched their Land for Bees initiative. Purchasing a honey subscription or pollinator-friendly groundcover seeds helps fund Ames’ project to rewild 233 acres of native prairie in Delano, Minnesota.
Find Ames honey in several unique flavors at the co-op.
Wonderstate Coffee
For many of us, coffee is more than a beverage — it’s a lifestyle. Since we can’t grow coffee in Minnesota, the co-op relies on trusted local roasteries to guarantee that your delicious morning mug is ethically sourced. That includes Wisconsin-based Wonderstate, which cares as much about their global impact as they do about tasty coffee.
Wonderstate buys their beans directly from growers and pays 55% more than the fair-trade minimum, with annual increases to adjust for inflation. Coffee growers have been impacted by everything from climate change to historically unfair trade agreements, and Wonderstate is committed to paying a price that acknowledges those hardships. They also donate 5% of their profits to organizations committed to uplifting communities locally and abroad. What’s more, in 2015 Wonderstate’s roastery installed a solar array that fully powers the facility on clean energy.
As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, Wonderstate even released a Lakewinds blend. Try this dark, toasty brew with notes of cocoa and caramelized sugar, available now in the bulk aisle.
Twin Organics
As one of the largest local providers of fresh produce to the co-op, we had to shout out Twin Organics. When perusing our summer produce, chances are good you’ll grab something grown on their Northfield farm. Back in 2014, twin brothers Jacob and Andrew started out growing a little bit of everything, including Brussels sprouts, scallions, tomatoes, and squash. In 2018 they moved from Wisconsin to their current location in the former Gardens of Eagan, one of Minnesota’s first organic farms. They’ve treated the land well, earning Real Organic Project certification for their dedication to soil health and sustainability.
In 2024, Twin Organics received a LOFF grant from Lakewinds to experiment with biodegradable clips for their tomato and cucumber trellises. In addition to reducing plastic waste, their new system ensures that the 20,000 to 30,000 pounds of leftover plant matter can be successfully composted at season’s end. “We probably wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on doing it [the experiment] without the grant, just because we’ve got so many irons in the fire all the time,” said Jacob Helling.
Look for their local, sustainable produce throughout the growing season.
In addition to our long-term local partners, Lakewinds is always eager to find new local farmers and makers to support. Every month we showcase what’s new at the co-op so you can stay up to date on all the new local products!