Here in northern Minnesota, the winter holidays always seem a little more exciting. The snow comes a little earlier here than it does a lot of other places, and it just serves to ramp up the anticipation. Watching the northern lights glow across the night sky and shimmer across the snow with a warm cup of cocoa in your hand or going on a walk outside with the snow crunching underfoot and your breath puffing out in clouds around your face; it’s hard not to get into the spirit when it feels like nature itself is putting up the decorations.
The heart of any human celebration, no matter your heritage, culture, birthplace or language, is food. Have a traditional feast with a baked ham or turkey, crispy skin and savory meat and piles of potatoes and dressing and casserole; have a giant appetizer feast and little tapas plates to mix-and-match all the snacks you can eat. If you’re celebrating at a distance this year, make sure to send a box of local goodies from Bemidji with love; any visiting guests will certainly appreciate some souvenirs to bring home, too. No matter where, what, and with whom you’re celebrating, we here at Harmony are here to help you have the very best holidays possible this year.
What better way to celebrate the harvest and the year's accomplishments than by supporting your local growers? Local means real food coming from real people in our same community or region; with everything from fish to honey, wild rice and maple syrup to bison and every kind of fruit and veggie that northern Minnesota gardens can produce. Shopping at the co-op isn’t just about eating delicious food, it’s about spending your money in a way that most positively impacts the people around you. For every dollar spent at the co-op over a thousand dollars goes back into the community; we pay our growers, they pay their bills, suppliers, and employees, and that money can keep recirculating. Buying local also supports northern Minnesota’s cultural traditions, such as our hand-harvested wild rice and our line of foods from the Red Lake Nation. As a locally owned cooperative we celebrate the history of the diverse cultures around us that have shaped who we are as a community, particularly the local food system, ways of sustainable living, and respect for the land.
Holiday Celebrations: Harmony Celebrates with you
Celebrate Classics • Celebrate Comfort • Celebrate Local Flavors • Celebrate Traditions • Celebrate • Culture • Celebrate Friends & Family • Celebrate Community • Harmony is here for all your celebratory needs.
The traditional centerpiece we recognize for many holiday meals is, of course, the turkey - whether you roast it, brine it, deep-fry it, or grill it. This year, we’ve got some truly excellent turkeys from a local favorite!
Harmony is exclusively carrying Ferndale Market turkeys this year at the best price ever!
*3rd Generation Family Farm in Cannon Falls, MN
*Humanely raised without antibiotics or hormones
*Always free range
*$1.29 per lb
We can't wait to help you find the perfect turkey and everything else you need for your holiday celebration. Limit 2 per household. Pricing is available through November 25th, or while supplies last. Ferndale Fresh turkeys at $2.89 per lb will also be available by reservation.
If your holiday celebrations are more toward the honey-glazed ham than the stuffed roasted bird, we’ve got you covered there, too. Beeler’s has some excellent whole and half hams, bone-in and boneless, that we here at Harmony think are delicious on any special occasion. They're always antibiotic-free and growth hormone-free, too, and raised on non-GMO feed.
We never forget the vegetarians and vegans, either; we've gotseveral brands of plant-based holiday roast, including Field Roast, Tofurkey and Gardein holiday roasts! Our website has some great holiday dinner ideas for both omnivores and herbivores alike if you'd like to think outside the box.
We have both standard and gluten-free options for such traditional staples as gravies and mixes, stuffing, and canned soups (for the perfect casserole), and pies and pie crusts. Warm up some delicious, fresh local breads (like Bramble Bee Bread, made right here in Harmony's Community Kitchen) and serve with rolled butter (Rochdale Farms, from next door in Wisconsin, is on Owner Deals all this month) or vegan spread.
Our Co-op Basics program offers everyday low prices on many popular grocery items, helping you save money on delicious, quality organic food. There’s maple syrup and coconut milk, canned corn and green beans, olives and crackers; from-scratch staples and ready-made snacks, juice and sparkling water for sipping on in between the snacks.
We know wintertime isn't just for eating lots of delicious food (though truth be told that's definitely one of our favorite parts). Gift exchanges are also an important part of holiday celebrations, and we are happy to help you find the perfect present, whether you're DIY or buying something ready-made. Our staff has collected some of our favorites here: https://www.harmonyfoods.coop/holiday-staff-picks
When shopping for gifts, think of purchasing fair-trade certified items (like Alaffia baskets or Equal Exchange chocolate and coffee). Fair trade items mean that the grower, farmer, or crafter has been fairly paid for their hard work and allow them the opportunity to give back in their own community, Just like gratitude is a small thing that yields big rewards in our lives, fair trade is a simple idea with profound results.
As excited as we are for the presents that you'll give to your loved ones, we're even more excited for the opportunity to give something back to our community. On Friday, November 27th, Harmony Co-op will host our annual “Buy Local, Give Local” event that will generate donations for 2 local non-profits (Bemidji Community Theater & Bemidji Community Food Shelf). Harmony Co-op will donate 10% of the day’s sales equally to Bemidji Community Food Shelf & Bemidji Community Theater. From 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. there will be a visual display of literature to learn about these organization and what they do for the community.
Bemidji Community Theater’s mission is "To provide an opportunity for people to pursue their interests in theater through acting and stagecraft support activities, in productions by and for community members." BCT has also donated over 900 Masks to the Community free of charge during this Covid-19 outbreak. Read more about what BCT has done for our community here https://bemidjicommunitytheater.org/community-outreach.html
Bemidji Community Food Shelf is a caring place that listens to those who are experiencing food insecurity. They work with their partners to be inclusive and to provide fresh, nourishing foods for those living in Beltrami County and the Bemidji School District. Read more about them here https://bcfsmn.org/
The day will feature 10% off at the registers from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. -- you'll definitely want to get the rest of your holiday shopping done today! Not only will you be able to save on some truly thoughtful and unique gift ideas (while sampling delicious food!), you'll know that you're making a difference and helping important causes in our local community -- and that's definitely something to celebrate!