A Holiday Guide to Local, Cooperative, and Fair Trade: Part One
When it comes to sourcing the highest quality produce alongside cooperative and equitable values, Co-op Partners has you covered. With 25+ years of partnering with growers throughout Minnesota & the broader Midwest, seeking out cooperative and family-owned farms, and prioritizing Fair Trade, here are some of CPW’s standout growers to trim your holiday feasts.
Cranberries from Ruesch Century Farm
In a small town in central Wisconsin lies the 80-acre Ruesch Century Farm. Now led by Brian Ruesch, whose great-grandfather purchased the farmland in 1879, Brian is the fourth generation of his family to grow there. First operating as a dairy farm for nearly 50 years, the farm is now home to a four-acre organic cranberry marsh. After planting once, cranberries require consistent monitoring for moisture and pests. After careful study through the growing season, the berries ripen to their ubiquitous scarlet hue around October. Ruesch is the only remaining cranberry farm to harvest using the dry harvest technique, which is gentler on the fruit than flood harvesting. Additionally, Reusch uses a larger sized template during sorting, resulting in bigger, brighter fruit with considerably longer shelf life.
Fair Trade Green Beans from Covilli
Covilli Brand Organics cultivates 2,000 acres in the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja. While the tidiness and beauty of their ever-popular 15 pound green bean box initially sets them apart, it feels good to support their work on countless community development projects like a new medical transportation unit, building a community health center, and improvements to dining and Day Care facilities. Their commitments to Fair Trade practices actively improve quality of life for hundreds of workers and their families. Since 2015, Covilli remains the first and only 100% Organic and Fair Trade company in North America and we’re honored to work with them.
Winter Squash from Featherstone Farm
For over 30 years, Featherstone Farm has cultivated certified organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs, selling to markets and co-ops across the Midwest. On 225 acres along the Root River in southeastern Minnesota, Featherstone is committed to building soil health, stewarding resources, and fostering fair, safe and accountable workplace practices. The majority of planting and harvesting is manual. Every year as the leaves turn, we anticipate Featherstone’s outstanding winter squash. Some holiday favorites include the mildly nutty acorn, perfect for halving, stuffing and baking for a comforting, nourishing meal. The familiar cold-weather staple butternut- not just for soup! Try dicing and roasting it as the centerpiece of a hearty autumnal salad. And of course, the irreplaceable pie pumpkin- the true hero of any holiday feast.
Mushrooms from R & R Cultivation
Beginning on a small scale selling at Twin Cities farmers markets, R&R Cultivation expanded eightfold in just a few years. Now operating from a state-of-the-art urban farm just northwest of Minneapolis, they cultivate gourmet mushroom varieties like oyster, maitake, lion’s mane, shiitake, pioppino, and more. If your shoppers love specialty mushrooms, try their brand-new king trumpet and oyster hybrid- Black King.
Potatoes from Igl Farms
Igl Farms is a third generation family-owned farm located in the Antigo Flats area of north central Wisconsin. Tom Igl and his sons Brian and Brad grow certified organic potatoes and vegetables on the farmland their family has farmed for nearly 100 years. Their commitment to organic and the care and craft of their small operation make their premium potatoes a consistent holiday favorite. Available in Red, Yellow, and Russet varieties.
Brussels Sprouts from Organic Valley
Certified organic and grown in the Midwest by family farmers belonging to the Organic Valley Cooperative. Since their founding in 1988 by a group of seven farmers, Organic Valley’s growers are also co-owners of CROPP Cooperative (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool)- the precursor to Organic Valley as it’s known today. Their elevated standards for organic were visionary- so much so that they informed the USDA’s organic certification. Organic Valley’s Brussels Sprouts are available in 10 lb cases.