Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Hy-Vee Aisles Onling Manager Joe Brey holds an order of cheese curds at fair foods trucks in the Hy-Vee parking lot Thursday. Fair food will remain in the parking lot until 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17.

NEW ULM — The Brown County Fair doesn’t open until August, but fair food came early to diners at the Hy-Vee parking lot Thursday.

Several food trucks with Solem Concession were parked in the west side of the parking lot offering fair food months before county and state fairs open their gates this summer and fall.

Cheese curds and corn dogs were among the more popular items from a list that included Cajun, ranch, garlic and original cheese curds; fried Oreos, mini donuts, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ice cream, cotton candy, regular and foot-long hot dogs.

“Business was great when we opened here at 11 a.m. Wednesday. We expect to be very busy this weekend. It’s good to bring this to New Ulm and make people smile,” said Solem Concessions food service manager Gareth Pretorious.

Starting in April, Solem Concessions food trucks travel to communities throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin offering an early taste of fair food.

The trailers remain in a city for a week before heading the next community. Before reaching New Ulm, Solem visited Rochester, Austin and Eagan. Next week the concession trucks will move to Lakeville and then St. Peter. The last stop of the season in the Minnesota State Fair.

Michael Guerrero of New Ulm bought a variety of items for the family. He bought cheese curds, mini donuts, a bucket of fresh-cut French fries and loaded ketchup on a foot-long hot dog.

“This is good, comfort food. It’s great stuff, a lot better than regular food,” he said. “I enjoy buying this food at the Brown County Fair, but getting it now is quite a novelty.”

Andrew Bardillas of New Ulm got an order of caramel-drizzled, fried Oreos.

“It’s one of my favorite desserts,” he said.

Robert Ferenchik celebrated college graduation early with an order of fried Oreos.

“I’m graduating Thursday night from South Central College with a degree in computer networking,” he said.

Kate Suess and Dayna Martin of New Ulm ordered cheese curds.

Hy-Vee Foods Aisles Online Manger Joe Brey of New Ulm said he has a love-hate relationship with garlic cheese curds but ordered them anyway.

“I love them, but hate how much I love them, because I may eat too many,” he said. “It’s really nice to be able to get fair food this early in the year instead of waiting until the Brown County Fair in August.”

Mike Scott of Madelia ordered three corn dogs.

“I’m on my way to the lake with my wife. The corn dogs are nice and crispy,” he said.

Lenny Linscheid of New Ulm ordered a freshly-squeezed lemonade and a corn dog that agreed with his taste.

New Ulm Hy-Vee Store Director Bill Kittler said he liked the fair food coming to the store.

“It’s the first time we’ve had this. We’re just trying to create a little excitement. It gets people on the lot. I think they’ll be pretty busy,” he said about the fair food trucks that will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday.