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Between the outrageous fees, markups, and lack of delivery windows, it’s a good time to delete those Instant Cart and Prime Now apps. Instead, seek out these small local makers and growers, where your money will stay in the local economy and support family businesses. Plus, unlike the largely unhelpful big guys, these places will serve their stuff at reasonable hours of the day. Here’s where to get fresh veggies, cultivated cool mushrooms, locally milled flour and more.
Eat for Equity
Order meal plans that include vegan or vegetarian options, or whole boxes of fresh veggies for pick up in Northeast Minneapolis. There are also pay-what-you-can boxes for those hit hardest by the shut down. To help this local nonprofit provide these meals, there’s also an option to donate a few bucks.
Golden Fig Fine Foods
This St. Paul shop has always been a zen shopping experience for the food lover. This fantastic gourmet grocer in the Twin Cities carries a little bit of everything from fresh produce to artisan chocolates and everything in between. Call ahead and have them put together a little box of goodies to pick up, including plenty of easy-to make dinner options utilizing fresh, local meat, cheeses, spice mixtures, fancy sodas, tea, and even a cast iron pan to cook it all up in. Curbside pick up available.
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France 44
This delightful deli, cheese shop, and liquor store is doing all kinds of tasty things for pick up or local delivery. Call (612) 925-3252 for delivery or pick up. Delivery is available with a $50 minimum order and $15 delivery fee for the following day. Same day pick ups take at least 45 minutes to fulfill during store business hours. Plus, there’s pie on Friday. Pie days - something we all could use more of.
R & R Mushrooms
These locally grown, organic mushrooms will upgrade any at home cooking game with interesting fungi that go way beyond portobellos. Get them shipped right to your door.
MN Pure Clear Ice
One wouldn’t expect a bag of ice to come with a side of pancake mix, but that’s what this local maker is delivering to doorsteps. This is the company used by a vast majority of cocktail hot spots in the Twin Cities, and now those crystal clear ice cubes are being brought to homes around the metro area for a minimal fee. On the website are a collective of other small, local makers that can hitch a ride on that ice delivery. There’s Milkjam ice cream, Bakers Field flour, Five Watt Coffee, Mucci’s frozen pizzas, Bittercube bitters, Patisserie 46 chocolates, and more. There’s a $50 minimum order and $5 delivery fee.
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Lowry Hill Meats
This beloved Minneapolis butcher shop is doing some local delivery as well as curbside pick up, but they’ve been quite busy lately, so allow some patience in ordering. In addition to a wide selection of ethically raised and expertly cared for meats, there are several grocery items available as well. Pick up some high-fat Hope Creamery butter, eggs, milk, pasta, coffee, a mix of fresh produce, and much more.
The St. Paul Meat Shop
This Grand Avenue butcher shop is doing take home dinners with same day pick up, including their cardamom spiced chicken breasts, ground beef, lamb or pork chops, and more meaty goods. There are also a few eggs, cheese, and produce items available. Order online and pick up curbside.
Local Crate
This local company has been doing meal kits for years, with several recipes from local chefs. Sign up for a weekly, no contact drop off with whole meals and all the ingredients needed for easy at home assembly. There’s a fair amount of fresh veggies and dietary restriction offerings. Order a minimum of two meals a week that serve two people, and delivery is free. It’s also blessedly easy to pause or cancel.