Local producer River Rock Kitchen & Baking Co. provides the Co-op with their amazing Sourdough bread along with multigrain breads, English muffins, and pizza dough. When we stopped in to visit last week, owner Montana (Christine) Rasmussen had her three month old son, Graham, with her. “He’s our third,” she told me. Along with building an amazing family, Montana continues to amaze us with what she does for the area with the homegrown, homemade goodness that makes River Rock Kitchen & Baking Co. stand out on its own. “We love producing things for the Co-op, and would love to do more.”

The company began in the St. Peter River Rock coffee shop’s small kitchen in 2016. A year later, they moved to their present location on Park Row. Walking in, one can see the bakers hard at work, usually starting their shift at 3 a.m. The large ovens full of quiches and the doughs awhirl on the preparation tables, we saw the dedication and passion put into each product they make. Montana has always connected with food and those connections helped her build a strong community. When asked if she envisioned this bakery, she told us, “The River Rock coffee shop, the bakery, and the Co-op all connect to community values, and those values are a place I want to live in.”

They continue to connect by providing a variety of products to places like the Coffee Hag, Neutral Groundz, River Rock coffee shop, Morgan Creek Vineyards and the New Ulm Community Market and Cooperative. They also have contracts with small, local businesse like the Getaway Motor Cafe in Carver, MN. Local farm CSA partnerships with Cedar Crate Farms and Waxwing (among others) are just another cool way they deliver local. Someone with a CSA share at these partnered farms has the option to sign up for a bread share with them as an added bonus. Local vegetables and homemade bread? We’re in.

When asked Montana about new things on the table, she mentioned that they’re thinking about a Pop-Up Pizza Night at the bakery. Another way to give folks great, homemade food.

Catering is something they also love to do. They have done desserts and appetizers for weddings and different types of parties. Each request is given their signature attention. The best way to get in touch with questions is to email them at [email protected]. You can check out more at their website, https://www.riverrockbakery.com/.

Thank you, River Rock Kitchen & Baking Co.,  for what you do for the Co-op and our local communities!