Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year Contest

Fresh from your Neighbor

Do you value local?

Minnesota Grown celebrates our Minnesota grocers who support local farmers. Are you one of them? The annual Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest recognizes grocery and liquor stores that promote foods produced by Minnesota Grown members, including fresh produce, meat and poultry, cheese and dairy, packaged goods, and wine, cider, beer, spirits and more!

2020.9.3 Taken Pine Tree Orchard Close up apples

Contest Period

The 2024-2025 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest period runs August 1 - September 30, 2024. Please fill out the interest form below to be notified about the 2024-2025 contest.

During the contest, each applicant will choose a one-week showcase during the contest period for a focused promotional effort in their store, and through related marketing activities.

Scoring will be based on 60% of total points for the one-week showcase and an additional 40% of points will be awarded for partnerships throughout the entire Minnesota Grown contest period. Winners will be announced early 2025. All entries must be received no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, October 11, 2024 through the online entry portal.

Download the Contest Overview

Branded Marketing Materials

Minnesota Grown provides free branded materials - including shelf tags and shelf talkers - to retailers to use in promoting local products. Per Minnesota statute, retailers may use the Minnesota Grown logo for displaying and advertising products that qualify for use of the Minnesota Grown logo.

Retailers are encouraged to use these materials year-round!

Order Branded Marketing Materials

Interest Form

Complete this form to stay in the loop for the 2024-2025 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year Contest. We will alert you and update the webpage when the application is live.

Fill Out the Interest Form

A grocery store produce display with ta farm theme with a corn silo and scarecrow.

Brinks Market, Chisago City (2023)

A group of grocery store staff gathered in their produce display. Many of them hold Minnesota Grown signs.

Mackenthuns's, Waconia (2022)

Kowalski's, Woodbury (2021)

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Lunds & Byerlys, Edina (2020)

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Festival Foods, Hugo (2019)

The annual Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest is a partnership between the Minnesota Grown program and the Minnesota Grocers Association.

2024 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year Winners Announced

A grocery store produce display at Hugo's Marketplace in Grand Forks.

Hugo's Family Marketplace, East Grand Forks

A grocery store produce display at Chris' Food Center.

Chris' Food Center, Sandstone

A grocery store produce display at Elden's Fresh Foods.

Elden's Fresh Foods, Alexandria

A grocery store produce display at Mackenthun's.

Mackenthun's Fine Foods, Waconia

Minnesota grocers recognized for promoting locally grown products

St. Paul, MN: Seven Minnesota grocers who promote locally grown and produced products have been named a 2024 Retailer of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Minnesota Grown program, in partnership with the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA).

This year’s winners include:

Northwest: Hugo’s Family Marketplace, East Grand Forks
Northeast: Chris’ Food Center, Sandstone
West Central: Elden’s Fresh Foods, Alexandria
Southwest: Mackenthun’s Fine Foods, Waconia
Southeast: Nilssen’s Foods, Zumbrota
Twin Cities: Kowalski’s Markets, Grand Avenue
People’s Choice: Festival Foods, Hugo

“We commend these seven grocers for their creative efforts to promote fresh, local foods from Minnesota Grown members,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “When consumers have the chance to eat more foods grown and produced by their neighbors, it benefits Minnesota’s farmers, grocers, and communities.” Read the full press release.