Staff photo by Fritz Busch Graze Food Co-op, a community-owned grocery store, opened in July 2024 at 3 S. Minnesota St. The store is committed to provide access to fresh, local, organic food including produce, meats, eggs, dairy products, health and beauty goods, pantry staples and unique gifts.

NEW ULM — A 100 percent member-owned independent grocery store opened in a new location, 3 S. Minnesota St.

Graze Food Cooperative focuses on local farmers and producers to create a more sustainable, organic food economy.

The store offers produce, meats, eggs, dairy products, pantry staples, health and beauty goods and unique gifts 2-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Store products include whole grain milling packages, micro-greens, locally-grown produce in greenhouses during the middle of winter.

All shoppers are welcome to shop, but cooperative members have access to member specials including gifts and have a voice in the co-op’s future.

Anyone can become a cooperative owner for a $150 one-time membership fee.

Cooperative member and cashier Cindy Wiederhoeft called the organic aspect of store items is “a huge benefit for shoppers.”

“The store was formerly located on 2nd Street N. downtown before moving to Minnesota Street downtown, just south of Center St.,” she said. “We recently hired a part-time store manager.”

“I’m glad we have this store. The organic aspect is important. A downtown food store is important too, especially for the people who live downtown now. They’re happy it’s here too,” said shopper Penny Purtzer of New Ulm.

Graze member benefits include access to an exclusive, member newsletter with cooperative updates, a 5 percent discount on each order, dividends during profitable years, distributed at the discretion of the board, reduced registration fees for cooperative classes and voting for board directors and cooperative initiatives.

The volunteer-run organization is seeking volunteer cashiers, shelf stockers and board members.

Local cooperative farmers and producers include Alternative Roots Farm, Madelia; B2B Honey Co., Mankato; Bliessful Bee Pastures, Gibbon; Butter Cream Soaps, LLC, Sleepy Eye; Gardner Bees, Sleepy Eye; Guldan Family Farm, New Ulm; Hendryck’s Apiaries, Lafayette; K & M Fischer Farm, Hanska; L.J. Fox Art, New Ulm; McCone Foods, Springfield; New Om Shop, New Ulm; Rogotzke Fish Co., Sleepy Eye; Stone Hearth Farm & Garden, Madelia; Stormy Creek Farm, New Ulm; Windjammer Farm, Hanska and Zeitgeist Gifting, New Ulm.

For more information including becoming a member or vendor, visit https://graze.coop/.