Eight groceries partner with nearby producers

Local News Eight groceries partner with nearby producers By MDN STAFF November 6, 2026 3 min read Trending MANDAN - The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) has announced it is fostering collaboration among rural grocers and area farmers with a program designed to offer more locally-grown fruits and vegetables to shoppers. Eight participating stores are receiving financial and technical support during a one-year pilot program to purchase, merchandise and promote North Dakota-grown produce and other foods. The stores include Prairie Harvest Foods, Fessenden; Hinrich's SuperValu, Harvey; McClusky Grocery; Prairie Pride Foods, Powers Lake; Farmer's Grocery, Sheyenne; Main Street Market, Turtle Lake; Velva Fresh Foods; and Baker's Market, Westhope. "Rural grocery stores are essential to their communities, but bringing locally grown foods into a traditional grocery setting can present some upfront challenges for both stores and producers," Ellen Huber, NDAREC rural development director, said. "This program gives grocers an opportunity to build relationships with area food producers while testing what their customers will buy with less financial risk." Other types of locally produced foods will be next, including meat, dairy, eggs, grain, beans and lentils, honey and herbs. Store owners and managers make their own decisions about which producers and products to work with, how much to purchase and how the products are priced and marketed. The program is intended to help stores experiment with new products and suppliers and learn what works in their individual communities. Funding for merchandising can also help stores improve how local foods are displayed, stored and promoted. For shoppers, that could mean seeing more locally grown foods identified and promoted in their hometown grocery stores. Residents of participating communities are encouraged to watch for local products, try them and let their grocers know what they would like to see offered. "We want customers to be part of the learning process," Huber said. "When shoppers choose locally grown foods and tell their grocer what they want, they are supporting both their local grocery store and North Dakota producers. That information will also help us better understand the potential for a stronger regional food system." The pilot program is part of the broader North Central Regional Grocery and Local Food Hub Initiative. Supported by a Bush Foundation grant through the Rural Development Finance Corporation, the effort focuses on strengthening rural grocery stores, expanding markets for local food producers and improving access to affordable, healthy food for area residents. The pilot will gather information about the types and quantities of local foods purchased, customer demand, sourcing and distribution challenges, merchandising strategies and relationships developed between grocers and growers. Lessons from the pilot will help guide the larger North Central Regional Grocery and Local Food Hub Initiative, which is exploring opportunities for greater collaboration among rural grocers and local food producers, according to NDAREC.