You've seen the stands across the Twin Cities and in areas outside the metro. Chances are, you stopped in for some fresh fruit and veggies. And 50 years in, Untiedt's Farm is navigating some modern agricultural challenges.
Untiedt's Vegetable Farm, a family-run operation west of the metro, is celebrating it's legacy of providing fresh produce to the Twin Cities, now in its third generation.
The Waverly farm is recognizable by its iconic red and yellow stands at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. Director of Marketing and Communications Jenna Untiedt says the business hasn't always been easy going.
"This year we're dealing with a lot of rain," she says. "Last year we had rain. We deal with wildlife. You go with the flow, kind of. You have to have an optimistic outlook or you're never gonna make it through a season. It's important for customers to understand that as well."
She say's their mission now is simple, to help people understand where food really comes from and why backing local farms helps keep family businesses alive.
Untiedt tells the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar the Waverly farm's retail operation really started at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. They can still be found there each summer five days a week.
Five decades in, however, things haven't gotten easier with unpredictable weather patterns and a shifting market.
"We are proud to see how much my dad has put into it and to see how much the company has grown and what the company has done for the community," Jenna Untiedt says. "And we're able to give back every year but at the end of the day we have to make sure that what we're doing supports us as well."
She says their new focus centers on connecting consumers with the true journey of their food from farm to table.
Oh, and that delicious corn you buy roasted at the Minnesota State Fair booth? That comes from Untiedt too. Talk about a Minnesota tradition!