Local Minnesota Turkeys
Many local farmers raise turkeys and Minnesota turkeys are widely available in grocery stores in the Twin Cities metro area. Locally raised organic turkeys are also available, at co-ops and independent butcher shops. Here's where to find local, organic, Minnesota turkeys for Thanksgiving.Stuffing
Wild rice is Minnesota's State Grain. Co-ops and many food stores carry Minnesota wild rice. It also makes a great stuffing ingredient. Here's a recipe for wild rice stuffing.
Side Dishes and Desserts
If you are making sides and desserts from scratch, look out for Minnesota produced ingredients. For cooking and baking, locally produced cream and milk is available at many local stores - look for Cedar Summit Farm milk and cream, and Pastureland butter and cheese.Did you know you don't need to start pumpkin pie with a can of pumpkin pie filling? Me either! Minnesota-grown pumpkin is great for pureeing for pumpkin pie and it tastes much better than the canned version. You can also try Minnesota honeycrisp or sweet tango apples for apple pie.
As well as local Minnesota turkeys, local Thanksgiving pies, desserts and side dishes are stocked in co-ops across the Twin Cities.
What to drink with dinner?
Surdyk's in Northeast Minneapolis is one of the largest and most comprehensive liquor stores in the Twin Cities, perfect for a special bottle of wine to drink with Thanksgiving dinner.
And since there will be football, and you will probably need beer too. Surdyk's has plenty of that too, and you can also try Four Firkins in St. Louis Park, a specialty beer store with a phenomenal selection of craft beers. Look out for beer from local breweries such as Surly, Fulton, Lift Bridge and Flat Earth.
Places to shop for Minnesota Thanksgiving Dinner
- Local co-ops - here's a list of co-ops in the Twin Cities.
- Independent butcher's shops can supply you with a local and/or organic turkey. Try Clancy's Fish and Meats in southwest Minneapolis, Kramarczuk's in St. Anthony, has free-range turkey and plenty of other Thanksgiving fare. Everett's Food and Meats in Powderhorn is so traditional they don't have a website. They do have organic turkeys though. Everett's Foods & Meats, 1833 E 38th St, Minneapolis, telephone 612-729-6626.
- Lunds and Byerlys stores
- Whole Foods markets
