‘Tis The Season For Picnics
It’s getting to be picnic season! Pack a tote bag with your favorite blanket, beverage, and snacks and meet up with a friend outside under the sun. We asked our Meat Manager Jon for his top 5 picnic picks to share with Co-op shoppers. Enjoy!
1. Smart Chicken Fully Cooked Organic Uncured Chicken Sausages
“Since 1998, Smart Chicken has been leading the way in producing the safest, highest quality, fresh chicken in the United States. From our sustainable and humane farming practices to our unique pure air-chilling process, we remain the only USDA Process Verified Pure Air-Chilled, No Added Water chicken in the USA.
Organic Uncured Smart Chicken sausages are a healthier alternative to beef and pork sausage with less fat, fewer calories, and no nitrates, nitrites, or fillers and are gluten free. Perfectly seasoned, these delicious, fully cooked sausages add healthful, flavorful protein to your favorite dishes.”
2. Applegate Genoa Salami Trio
The Triple Crown of salami: Classic, Peppered, and Herb. Perfect for your charcuterie board!
“For over 30 years, we have been producing high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Our products are made without GMO ingredients and we source our meat from farms, where animals are treated with care and respect and are allowed to grow at their natural rate, all part of our mission – Changing The Meat We Eat®. Natural can mean many things, but to us natural means that the meat inside our products are:
- From animals raised humanely without antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants
- From animals fed a vegetarian or 100% grass diet
- Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
- Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives”
3. Northern Waters Smokehaus Smoked Trout/Salmon – LOCAL
Smoking local fish, meat, and poultry on the banks of Lake Superior since 2001, Northern Waters Smokehaus loves to innovate the traditions of charcuterie and smokery – and make unique and delicious sandwiches with the results.
Their Smoked Lake Trout is sourced fresh from the icy waters of Lake Superior. A local favorite, the flavor of Lake Trout is rich, moist, and gently pungent. Northern Waters double-cures the fish with brown sugar, adding just the right balance of sweetness to the savory, alkaline quality of this meaty fish. Don’t miss the delicious Smoked Atlantic Salmon as well!
4. Eichten’s Buffalo Summer Sausage – LOCAL
The Eichten’s had been farming for more than 40 years when they started looking for an all natural meat to complement their all natural European cheeses. After starting with a herd of 13 bison in 1987, the herd has grown to over 300. All are USDA certified “all natural” meaning that they are free ranged on pasture and are not subject to any added growth hormones or antibiotics. The combination of native grasses and organic grains was carefully researched and selected to ensure the great flavor experienced when enjoying Eichten’s buffalo meats.
5. Co-op Deli Housemade Sesame Tofu Sticks
Looking for a delicious plant-based picnic item? Our Deli has got you covered! Ready to eat and available in our grab and go section, Sesame Tofu Sticks are baked golden brown after being marinated in a sesame soy marinade and topped with fresh green onions and sesame seeds. Try them on salads or on sandwiches as a meat substitute. They’re also just delicious to snack on.
The St. Peter Food Co-op is open 7 days a week, from 7AM – 9PM. Stop by & check out our selection of local and organic items.