Check out out Midwest Roots series, featuring Stoney Brook Farms, located in Foley, MN.
Stoney Brook Farms
Foley, MN
Stoney Brook Farms is your destination for a bountiful variety of pumpkins and squash, including the beloved Jack-O-Lanterns and charming table-top minis.
Not only do the offer these delightful fall treasures, but also take pride in making a difference. A portion of their Porcelain Doll pumpkin sales goes towards supporting breast cancer research.
Stoney Brook Farms is home to Minnesota’s grandest corn maze, providing an exhilarating adventure just outside Foley, MN. Coborn’s is excited to be in collaboration with Stoney Brook Farms as part of Coborn’s Midwest Roots Initiative.
Remarkably Fresh. Incredibly Local. That’s the power of Midwest Roots.
Check out out Midwest Roots series, featuring the Syrup Ranch, located in Bowlus, MN.
The Syrup Ranch
Bowlus, MN
Locally Tapped/Bottled Pure Maple Syrup
At the heart of our Midwest Roots lies the stories of remarkable family-run businesses, and today, we’re thrilled to promote one of our proud partners, The Syrup Ranch, from Bowlus, Minnesota!
Their journey began in 2009 when they tapped their very first tree and have embarked on a syrup-making adventure. Year by year, they evolved and grew and became dedicated to perfecting the craft of syrup-making.
In 2014, their hard work paid off when they took home awards for all three grades of syrup at the MN State Fair and even Best in Show from the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers’ Association.
As a result of their innovation and partnership with Coborn’s, Inc., they came to create the renowned Four Brothers maple syrup brand. As their journey continued, they embraced innovation and partnered with local stores, including Coborn’s, Cashwise, and The Marketplace Foods, to create the renowned “Four Brothers” maple syrup brand.
The Syrup Ranch embodies the spirit of family, dedication, and the Midwest, and we couldn’t be prouder to be on this journey with them.
Remarkably Fresh. Incredibly Local. That’s the power of Midwest Roots.
Check out out Midwest Roots series, featuring Orchards, Honeybear Farms, located in Elgin, MN.
Orchards, Honeybear Farms
Elgin, MN
Last fall, we took a tour of Wescott Orchards in Elgin, MN. Watch to learn more about how this amazing company teams up with other local apple growers to bring your favorite apple varieties fresh to our stores!
Remarkably Fresh. Incredibly Local. That’s the power of Midwest Roots.
Check out out Midwest Roots series, featuring Stoney Brook Farms, located in Foley, MN.
Stoney Brook Farms
Foley, MN
Fresh local produce and the World’s Largest Corn Maze!
Established in 2005, Stoney Brook Farms is located in Foley, MN and grows nearly 700 acres in vegetables each season.
“We grow asparagus, snap peas, green beans, sweet corn, broccoli, squash and pumpkins, and more to come in the near future!”
– Brad Chmielewski, Manager.
Pumpkins? Yes please! Stoney Brook picks around 200,000 pumpkins each year. They have mini’s, pie, small, medium and large pumpkins, as well as ornamental pumpkins.
“We start our pumpkins around the 15th of May to ensure there are pumpkins starting around Labor Day. We know they’re ready when they have a nice orange color (no green!), and a firm, well-attached stem to grab on to.”
– Brad Chmielewski
In 2022, Stoney Brook Farms hosted the World’s Largest Corn Maze and they invite the public to come out the farm to see what they have going on again in 2023. Learn more information at Stoneybrookfarms.com.
Remarkably Fresh. Incredibly Local. That’s the power of Midwest Roots.
Check out out Midwest Roots series, featuring the Novak’s Grown Right Vegetables, located in Foley, MN.
Novak’s Grown Right Vegetables
Foley, MN
“We are a family business and every day I am privileged to work with my nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers! In 2013, we were recognized as a Century Farm at the Benton County Fair.”
– Greg Novak, Owner, Novak’s Grown Right Vegetables
Have you ever had kohlrabi? Novak planted over 44,000 kohlrabi plants this past spring! From planting to harvest, kohlrabi takes around 90 days to mature. Although you can look at the size, the taste test is Greg’s favorite way to ensure the Kohlrabi is ready to go: “We don’t want the kohlrabi to be woody, so we make sure to get the best seeds. The kohlrabi need a good amount of water, so if it doesn’t rain, we will irrigate them under the plastic.”
The Novak family’s favorite way to enjoy kohlrabi is raw, cut with a crinkle cutter because “they seem to taste even better than way!”
At Novak’s Grown Right Vegetables, they start a lot of vegetable plants in the greenhouse.
“Most of our kohlrabi is started in the greenhouse in the spring so that we can get a jump on the weather. Some of our other veggies are started outside, like zucchini. Within our high tunnels, we grow a lot of tomatoes and peppers. Kohlrabi are all outside. Zucchini, cucumbers, dill are outside also.” – Greg Novak
Greg and his family farm 50 acres of vegetables with a team of 14 employees.
Remarkably Fresh. Incredibly Local. That’s the power of Midwest Roots.
Coborn’s Inc loves supporting local and today we’re excited to give you an inside look at Revol Greens!
In Feb. of 2021, our Registered Dietitians took a field trip down to Owatonna, MN to explore how a local MN grower can provide fresh, leafy greens to our stores 365 days a year. We toured the facility with Chayla Balko, Director of Business Development at Revol Greens, and are giving you the inside scoop on their growing practices including the varieties they grow and their sustainability efforts. Check out the full video for more information and to see the inside of the greenhouse!
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How large is the greenhouse?
Revol Greens greenhouse is 10 acres (equivalent to about 7 football fields!) Although smaller than a traditional farm, their ability to grow leafy greens 365 days a year is extremely advantageous.
How are the leafy greens grown?
Revol Greens grows leafy greens using a hybrid-hydroponic system. This combines the best of all farming methods. They use a small amount of soil to get nutrients to the plants right away, but rather than planted in the ground, they are “planted” on a pond. The roots grow into the water to soak up nutrients while they float through the pond. (The video provides great visuals to how this works- check it out!) From seed to harvest, it takes an average of 3 weeks for these leafy greens to grow.
What sustainability efforts are in place at Revol Greens?
Revol Greens is proud of their strong commitment to sustainability. First off, as a local grower, once their leafy greens are harvested, they are packaged at their facility and sent directly to our stores. This allows the fresh product to be on your dinner table in a matter of days, and reducing the total miles that the produce has had to travel.
Another incredibly sustainable practice they have in place is using recycled water. Revol Greens actually captures and UV sterilizes MN rain water and snow, and can utilize that inside the greenhouse. It’s a win-win! On the days when it’s sunny, the greenhouse windows let in natural light for the crops. On overcast days, the Revol Greens team has LED and HID lights to provide the light and nourishment needed to keep their crops growing strong 365 days a year.
Revol Greens is a great choice!
Eating more vegetables is always encouraged! Revol Greens provides a variety of products that meet the needs of all our guests including both a conventional and organic line. Of course, their products have great nutrition, too! Leafy greens are packed with vitamin K, and also include fiber, vitamins A & C, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, and antioxidants.
We hope you enjoy the full video to give you an inside look at the greenhouse and more tips from Chayla, their Director of Business Development. Revol Greens can be found at Coborn’s, Cash Wise and Marketplace Foods stores.
Make a weekend brunch worthy of the memories that it will create with this Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake. Our dietitians are adding new recipes all the time, so check out our Dietitians Choice Recipes page for all their latest recipes!
Shop from the comfort of your home! You can shop online at any of our proud family of stores for these recipe ingredients as well as the rest of your grocery list! We offer curbside pick up at all locations and delivery in select locations as well. Don’t forget to connect your MORE Rewards account when you shop online for extra savings, digital coupons, and many other rewards too!
GROWN LOCALLY. KNOWN GLOBALLY as the Best Pork in the U.S.
Comfrey Farm CERTIFIED DUROC is Now at Coborn’s, CashWise and Marketplace.
Read the Authentic Story. Taste Deliciousness.
In his 20s he gets almost as good as his father at making the rounds before the first light of dawn shows itself to the fields, sky and farm animals. All are hungrily ready to consume the sun’s boundless energy and make the most of the gift of a new day. By mid-day, he is already soaked in sweat; muscles fatigued from work not recreation; carrying the worry and burden that comes from keeping prized, pedigreed pigs fed, watered, sheltered, comfortable and in the very best of health.
There’s always that moment every day (or at least once each week) when the Comfrey Farm Duroc pig farmer—otherwise known as “grower,” “producer,” or “caretaker”—pauses with gratitude and pride. He and his family, those who have gone before him and the sons, daughters, brothers, nieces and nephews who now stand before him, working side-by-side, could have chosen an easier, quicker, and less costly route. But then they would just be making a living and not living a dream. The dream to be a different kind of pork producer, one focused on delivering the absolute best.
Less than 150 miles away is the Comfrey Farm Prime Pork pig barn and pork packing plant in Windom, MN. They will accept Durocs from its four family farms, giving them the same care and respect as the growers. Truly wholesome, natural food does not come easily or thoughtlessly. The barn was designed in collaboration with Dr. Temple Grandin to accommodate the animals in a stress-free environment for rest and roaming. The newly overhauled plant incorporates every necessary detail to live up to the promise of giving an extraordinary eating experience to flavor-seekers. It features bright, lofty spaces with highly automated robotics and temperature control, which keeps the food and workers safe while preserving the ruby-pink color and freshness of the pork. It also showcases the craftsmanship of more than a hundred skilled butchers on the floor—mothers, fathers, los jóvenes, on their feet day after day, masterfully cutting each piece of meat with the talent of an artist and the eye of an inspector.
How could this daily grind be satisfying? One taste will explain. Satisfaction comes from the consumer who calls to say she has been craving this indescribable real pork flavor since she was a child five decades ago. And from the butcher who said he has been selling pork for more than three decades and has never tasted anything more delicious than this Comfrey Farm purebred Duroc pork.
This is living our dream. We sincerely thank the entire Coborn’s family of employees and shoppers for warmly welcoming us. We invite you to experience and enjoy, time and time again, our all-natural DUROC pork on your fork. Please, be in touch with us.
American Tulip Day is just around the corner and nothing says Spring quite like a bouquet of fresh Tulips! We visited our friends at Len Busch Roses, which is located in Plymouth, Minnesota, to go behind the scenes to learn how they grow their beautiful tulips! Continue reading →
It’s March and you know what they say about March… in like a lamb, out like a lion. Well, I’m hoping this year that doesn’t come true. As much as I love winter, I sure love spring and can’t wait for those fresh flowers to pop up! In the meantime, there are evenings I just like to stay home cozy up to a roaring fire and grab my favorite blanket. I call those “movie nights” and I look forward to them. Continue reading →
Hi Everybody! February is half over and I can just feel spring in the air since we have had such a mild Minnesota weather. Speaking of Minnesota, I just have to talk to you all about “local”. I just love local and I love talking about local. So I thought I would show you some great recipes using some of our great local products right here in the Midwest.
Today I thought I would talk about French Toast with homemade blueberry syrup and homemade whipped cream. This is ‘yummy” no matter which way you look at it.
Homemade Blueberry Syrup
The first thing I’m going to start with is my homemade blueberry syrup. Now you are probably going to say “you can’t get local blueberries in the middle of the winter” and you’re absolutely right! That is why in the winter months Coborn’s gets many of our blueberries from Chile. They have the optimum climate for growing blueberries in November through April and let me tell you Chile grows product that is the finest and safest for export to us way up north. Of course they are healthy, they score a 100 on the NuVal Scoring System and in just one cup you can receive almost 4 grams of fiber and 25% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. They are so delicious and nutritious and I just have to use these Chilean blueberries for my homemade sauce.
Homemade Blueberry Syrup
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 T. Cornstarch
1/3 Cup Water
2 Cups Fresh Blueberries
Instructions
In the bottom of a saucepan, stir together sugar and cornstarch.
Whisk in water.
Stir in blueberries and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, cook for 1-minute stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and allow to cool (it will thicken more as it cools).
Serve warm over pancakes or ice cream.
Store cooled leftover syrup in the refrigerator.
Homemade Whipped Cream
The next step is creating the luscious whipped cream and that is to die for. For the whipped cream I always use Kemps Heavy Whipping Cream not only because of the great quality but here is another local company and what I love best about Kemps is how giving a company they are to our communities. What more can I say? Kemps it’s the Cows!
Now after adding the whipping cream you need to also add the sugar and again both local companies. Crystal Sugar is from the Red River Valley area and has factories in Minnesota and North Dakota. The vanilla is a favorite of mine and that is J. R. Watkins and they are right out of Winona, Minnesota!
Homemade Whipped Cream
Ingredients
1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Place the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in a stand mixer.
Turn the mixer on low at first, until all the ingredients are fully mixed.
Then turn the mixer on medium speed.
Whip the cream until almost stiff peaks form.
Notes
The most important step before you begin is to make sure everything is really cold. Place the beater and the bowl of the mixer in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Also place the heavy whipping cream in the freezer at the same time. As the beaters whip the cream the coldness of the bowl helps the cream maintain its structure.
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French Toast
Now the final step the French toast.
I am using Country Heart Bread and it is made right here in St. Cloud, Minnesota. If you are ever in the St. Cloud area you just have to drive by their Bakery, because the smells are to die for. The smell of fresh bread that you will experience, there is nothing like it! Country Hearth bread is also in the Coborn’s Penny Pinchers a lot too so stock up and freeze it, I would recommend using that bread with in one month of freezing. Now when you are heating up the French toast make sure to check out Smude Sunflower Oil that has a phenomenal buttery flavor and is also produced right here in Pierz, Minnesota.
French Toast
Ingredients
1 Egg
3/4 Cup Milk
1 T. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 Pinch Salt
Bread
Instructions
Beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla and salt.
Heat a lightly oiled skillet or griddle over medium heat.
Soak bread slices in egg mixture for 10 seconds on each side.
Cook bread until both sides are lightly browned and crisp.
Serve hot.
Local
Now I love supporting local and I bet you do to. You can pick up these local products at your favorite local Coborn’s store. You know what I really love about my job at Coborn’s? I love working for a local company. When my son was in baseball as a child, the team was sponsored by Coborn’s and they still are today. So I hope when you think of local you think of Coborn’s because our support center is right here in St. Cloud, Minnesota and we employ almost 8,000 great employees throughout the Upper Midwest, it’s a great company and thank you for supporting us for nearly 96 years. Enjoy your local French Toast and we’ll see you in two weeks! Enjoy!!!
Jayne
Coborn’s, Inc. Merchandising Specialist Team Manager – Bakery and Deli
If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I am all about local! At Coborn’s, we have so many great partners that supply us with honey, beef, dairy, soap, essential oils, popcorn, peanut butter and so much more! One of the best things about these local products is to know the source of where they come from. It gives us all a better understanding of the quality and the commitment of the producers when we know where our products are traveling from and the amount of time it took for them to reach our tables. Continue reading →
