co-ops, natural/whole foods near Anoka

[AmyMN]

I live near Elk River and Anoka. I'm looking for the nearest natural foods store. There is a tiny co-op in Anoka. Elk River has Colburn's which has some natural foods. Does anyone know of any others near my area? How about Maple Grove?

[elaine]

sorry i can't help, but you should try the lunch counter at the co-op in anoka, it's great!
and they may be small but they do have lots of stuff

[mommyscoming]

Unfortuantely, there aren't very many resources for this stuff in the Maple Grove area. However, Cub and Byerly's carry some organic foods, but Coburns in Elk River has a better selection.

Another idea for you is that there is a group called Healthy Moms Healthy Families. They have a website and are in this area. They have a healthy moms grocery club. If you want some more info, feel free to pm me.

[ozmummy]

I agree with Elaine. Try that lunch counter in Anoka. YUM!
You may also want to try mail order for some organics.

[scribblerkate]

Just an FYI for those in the Anoka/Elk River area:

As of 6/16/03, the Anoka co-op is officially Lakewinds Co-op. They are planning a remodel for this summer and a grand opening in September. Apparently, the co-op will remain the same size and the cafe will also remain. But, since I have the impression that Lakewinds is a fairly large co-op, maybe the Anoka co-op will be better stocked? Certainly, you'd have access to ordering from the main Lakewinds co-op in Minnetonka.

I am a little sad, since I like the idea of small independent co-ops serving local community needs (rather than following the commercial grocery model), but I also think this will be a good thing for the Anoka co-op and its members.

[cattrane]

wow, kate, i had no idea. does that mean the anoka co-op is closed until sept?

this is really horrible of me, but i don't even know which direction anoka is LOL if i still had dsl i'd check myself!

[Miss Kitty]

I don't know if this will work for you or not. Go to the Blooming Prairie warehouse web site
www.blooming-prairie.com

They have a warehouse in Mounds View.

Perhaps they can hook you up with a cooperative group in your area that you can join. Then we order every other month and the truck comes here to a local church and we unload and get our order and pay.

Hope this helps.

[scribblerkate]

Re Anoka co-op -- they were open yesterday when I talked to them. I got the impression the remodel was going to go on while they were open, but I didn't ask that. Afterward, I wondered myself whether they were going to have to close at all. I hope not because I buy from them during the workday. Ack!

[smeta]

I was going to suggest checking with Blooming Prairie also. I am in a buying club with them in Minnetonka. You can call Blooming Prairie and find out if there are any buying clubs in your area (there probably are).

If there aren't any, our club is open to new members. We place orders once a month - so it would't be like driving to the natural foods store once a week. You mostly stock up on stuff - buy in cases or split cases with other club members. There are a lot of items that you can buy separately too. Everything is cheaper than at the store, especially health and beauty products. PM me if you want more info!

[Snow]

I used to do Blooming Prairie about 12 yrs ago w/ some work friends but then the most active of them moved away. Anyway, would highly recommend it. Cheap and great selection, easy to figure out catalogue, etc.
Smeta - if you need new members, I am so tempted. (and so NOT in the area!)

[smeta]

Well, like I said, it's only once a month!! And you could order less if you wanted - every other month or something. Minnetonka's not that far away - 20-30 min. I helped start up the club w/ some LLL friends, so it's a great group of ladies.

Plus, everything is all computerized now - we have email sharing lists and then you do your ordering through a software program and just email it to the club's coordinator.

[scribblerkate]

smeta, thanks for the info about Blooming Prairie. For some reason I thought that you had to know about a group or start your own in order to get into a buying club. I am glad to hear that you can find out from BP themselves about buying clubs in your area.

I am most interested in baking -- bulk flours and such, so I don't know whether we'd be good candidates for a buying club?

[smeta]

You can get all that stuff in bulk through a club. Most of the flours come in 25# quantities though. If you didn't want that much you would have to find someone in the club to split it with you.

[AngelBee]

:notes:

[yoyo65]

I've noticed that this is an old thread.
Blooming Prairie no longer exsists. They were bought out by United Foods a couple years ago. I don't think they have a buying club.

[AngelBee]

I've noticed that this is an old thread.
Blooming Prairie no longer exsists. They were bought out by United Foods a couple years ago. I don't think they have a buying club.
Bummer :crying

I am looking for a co-op to join.

[kmamma]

They still have their old buying clubs. You can even do a search for blooming prairie with website address and phone number. I recently called and got a list of the buying clubs in my area. It's still called BP, just owned by united. From what I heard the buying clubs received money through the deal and so at least the club in my area no longer charges a fee for each member.

[AngelBee]

They still have their old buying clubs. You can even do a search for blooming prairie with website address and phone number. I recently called and got a list of the buying clubs in my area. It's still called BP, just owned by united. From what I heard the buying clubs received money through the deal and so at least the club in my area no longer charges a fee for each member.
Thanks....I will try calling them.