Program Brings Affordable Food to St. Louis Park

Looking for an affordable way to load up on some essential groceries once a month? St. Louis Park might have the perfect program for you.

Fare for All Express, which is organized by the Emergency Foodshelf Network, is a cooperative food buying initiative that allows people to purchase fruits, vegetables and frozen meats in bulk while saving up to 40 percent on grocery store prices. Sales also help support the EFN’s mission.

And contrary to popular belief, the program is not just for those under a certain income level. While food stamps are accepted, so too are credit cards and cash, and the cooperative program actually does better—and can keep prices lower—when more people use it.

“I think that’s sometimes a challenge with the program,” said Volunteer Coordinator Kate Burggraff in reference to people thinking it’s only for those in need. “We’re all trying to save money.”

Burggraff and STEP help keep the program running smoothly each month at the .  During the most recent distribution on Tuesday, a number of regular STEP volunteers helped customers load up with packages of frozen meat and pies, as well as fresh produce and baked goods. STEP also uses the EFN as a regular supplier for its food shelf.

Laverne Holmes used Fare for All Express for the first time on Tuesday after her friend, Pat Retterath, told her about it.

“I can’t believe it,” Holmes said. “It’s wonderful.”

Retterath said that for senior citizens like herself and Holmes, the convenience of loading up on so much food in one place is a big plus.

“If you know what you want, they have it right there,” Retterath said.

Erik Evans and his daughters, Avery and Rosalie, also loaded up on Tuesday. Evans, who has done some volunteering for STEP, said he’s proud to support cooperative buying.

“I think it’s the idea of it I like,” Evans said.

Fare for All Express has a number of Twin Cities distribution locations (see a complete list on their website) including Lenox. The program will be operating in St. Louis Park again on July 5, and then again on Aug. 2 and Aug. 30. Meat and produce are always offered, but the specific items vary, and there is typically a seasonal favorite mixed in.

Deborah Shatto, a program assistant with the EFN, said last month about 70 people purchased food through the program at Lenox. She hopes to see that number grow in coming months and stressed that anyone is welcome to buy through Fare for All.

“We’re doing it to just help provide low cost food to people,” Shatto said. “You’re not taking from anyone.”