Local Foods & Farms
Love local food? Visit a Local Market or a Local Grower near the Mesabi Trail
The goal of the Northeast Agri-Cycle Tours (NEAT) project is to connect bicyclists with local food producers and agri-tourism opportunities near the Mesabi Trail.
Whether it’s grabbing some locally grown food from a small town market, touring a working farm, grabbing some produce at a farmers market, picking berries at a U-pick, or spending the night camping at a farm, each local food experience is unique.
If you would like to stop by a market, locations are located below – check their website or Facebook to verify hours.
If you would like to visit a farm – please contact them directly to arrange a visit (some prefer advance notice). Most of the farms are within 10 miles of the Mesabi Trail, so they can be easily incorporated into your cycling or travel route. Enjoy!!
If you would like to list your farm or market here – contact Julia at kloeh007@umn.edu.
Special thanks to our friends at RSDP for creating this amazing opportunity for folks visiting and living near the Mesabi Trail!
Natural Harvest Food Co-op
732 4th Street North
Virginia, MN 55792
The area’s only natural foods co-op is located just steps from the Mesabi Trail. All produce is organic and comes from local farmers when available. Offering premium groceries, bulk foods, all-natural body care, supplements, and a great selection of local products. In-house deli offers lunch specials, grab & go foods, fruit smoothies, and a full service coffee bar.
Virginia Market Square
111 South 9th Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
Thursday 2:30pm – 6pm; First week in June through the end of October. “Locally grown produce, eggs, meat, bread, pickles & jams, herbal body care, soap, baked goods.”
Tower Farmers Market
400 Pine Street
Tower, MN 55790
Friday 4pm – 6pm; Early June through end of September. At the Train Depot parking lot.
Mr Ed’s Farm
10796 Foss Road
Hibbing, MN 55746
Located about 11 miles SE of the Mesabi Trail Hibbing access point. Visit a real horse powered farm and established agri-tourism destination with various types of livestock. Admission $5 per person. Contact to Visit: Go to the website or email mredsfarmllc@gmail.com.
The Blueberry Patch
4493 Lilac Road
Gilbert, MN 55741
Located about 9 miles SE of the Mesabi Trail Gilbert access point. U-pick blueberry farm, berries are usually ripe in August. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-865-4100 for current picking availability.
Kunnari’s Pick-Your-Own
6650 Bodas Road
Gilbert, MN 55741
Located about 8 miles south of the Mesabi Trail McKinley access point. Pick-your-own strawberries. Contact to Visit: Call 218-865-4732 before coming out, as the season changes from year to year and picking conditions change daily. Kids are welcome, no pets please.
Hibbing Farmers Market
1309 East 40th Street
Hibbing, MN 55746
Tuesday 2pm – 5pm; Saturday 9am – 1pm; June 18 to October (weather permitting). “We have fresh fruits, vegetables & canned goods, mouth watering farm fresh meats & eggs, a wide variety of fresh baked goods and maple syrup”
Bryndlewood Gardens
3251 Horseshoe Lake Road
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Located a few miles south of the Grand Rapids Mesabi Trail access point. Bryndlewood Gardens offers guided farm tours focusing on high tunnels and sustainable growing practices for vegetable and fruit production. Producing a huge variety of vegetables (leafy greens to tomatoes and eggplants), raspberries, blueberries, fresh chicken eggs, local cut flowers, and bedding plants in the spring. Kids are welcome; no pets please. Contact for a Visit: 1-2 weeks in advance via private message on Facebook (if just wanting to purchase produce, 2-3 days notice is sufficient). Amenities: Fresh drinking water onsite, outhouse available, and can accommodate electrical charging.
Grand Rapids Farmers Market
11 Golf Course Road
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Wednesday 8am – 1pm; Saturday 8am – 1pm; Beginning of May to end of October. “Locally Grown fresh fruits & vegetables. Honey and Maple Syrup. Home raised meats, Fresh Baked Goods, and Canned Goods.”
Lavalier’s Berry Patch
28056 County Road 441
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Located about 7 miles SE of the Grand Rapids access point.U-pick strawberries and blueberries; plus apples, tart cherries, vegetables, and honey in season. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-327-9199 for current picking availability.
Fat Chicken Farm
6362 Taylor Road
Embarrass, MN 55732
Located about 9 miles from Heritage Park in Embarrass, a future access point for the Mesabi Trail. Take a short tour of an intensively planted small organic vegetable farm that’s complimented by chickens & bees. See how a couple of high tunnels dramatically extend the short growing season. No charge to visit, but if you want to put in 15 minutes of sweat equity, that would be greatly appreciated! Kids absolutely welcome; dogs must be leashed and kept away from the chickens. Farmer Jana says: “I love playing in the dirt all day, and seeing the life that abounds beneath our feet. And I love sharing great-tasting, healthy food with people.” Contact for a Visit: Email fatchickenfarm@gmail.com to schedule a visit, or take your chances and stop by! Amenities: water, bathroom, charging access, veggie samples if they are available.
Early Frost Farms
7273 Palo Tia Road
Embarrass, MN 55732
Located just a couple of miles from Heritage Park in Embarrass, and right off a portion of the Mesabi Trail soon to be completed. The Farm produces vegetables, honey, fruit, eggs, wild blueberries, wild bog berries, raspberries, wild mushrooms, peace and serenity. Stop by the General Store for fresh veggies in season; baked goods…including homemade pie (sliced & whole), snacks, ice cream treats and beverages when available. Email us 24 hours in advance if you would like a farm visit; respectful kids welcome, dogs are not because of the free range chickens.
Helstrom Farms
10955 South Town Line Road
Hibbing, MN 55746
Located about 15 miles south of the Hibbing Mesabi Trail access point. Stop by for a quick tour of a 6th generation farm raising organic grass-fed beef and pastured chickens. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-969-6064 at least one day in advance to schedule a visit. Kids are welcome; not pets please. Overnight accommodations in house a possibility.
Ely Farmers Market
721 East Sheridan Street
Ely, MN 55731
Tuesday 5pm – 7pm; Last Tuesday in May to September. At Whiteside Park. “Bringing you locally sourced and organic plants, produce, baked and canned goods from the finest producers, farmers and artisans in the Ely area.”
F & D Meats
1108 8th Street South
Virginia, MN 55792
Legendary local butcher shop, featuring locally sourced providers and producers. Full-service meat counter, grocery, produce and dairy. Health, wellness and home goods. Hats, hoodies, T-Shirts…It’s all here! See you soon!
Located a few miles south of the Grand Rapids Mesabi Trail access point. Bryndlewood Gardens offers guided farm tours focusing on high tunnels and sustainable growing practices for vegetable and fruit production. Producing a huge variety of vegetables (leafy greens to tomatoes and eggplants), raspberries, blueberries, fresh chicken eggs, local cut flowers, and bedding plants in the spring. Kids are welcome; no pets please. Contact for a Visit: 1-2 weeks in advance via private message on Facebook (if just wanting to purchase produce, 2-3 days notice is sufficient). Amenities: Fresh drinking water onsite, outhouse available, and can accommodate electrical charging.
3251 Horseshoe Lake Road
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Located about 15 miles south of the Hibbing Mesabi Trail access point. Stop by for a quick tour of a 6th generation farm raising organic grass-fed beef and pastured chickens. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-969-6064 at least one day in advance to schedule a visit. Kids are welcome; not pets please. Overnight accommodations in house a possibility.
10955 South Town Line Road
Hibbing, MN 55746
218-969-6064
Tuesday 2pm – 5pm; Saturday 9am – 1pm; June 18 to October (weather permitting). “We have fresh fruits, vegetables & canned goods, mouth watering farm fresh meats & eggs, a wide variety of fresh baked goods and maple syrup”
1309 East 40th Street
Hibbing, MN 55746
Located about 9 miles SE of the Mesabi Trail Gilbert access point. U-pick blueberry farm, berries are usually ripe in August. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-865-4100 for current picking availability.
4493 Lilac Road
Gilbert, MN 55741
218-865-4100
Located just a couple of miles from Heritage Park in Embarrass, and right off a portion of the Mesabi Trail soon to be completed. The Farm produces vegetables, honey, fruit, eggs, wild blueberries, wild bog berries, raspberries, wild mushrooms, peace and serenity. Stop by the General Store for fresh veggies in season; baked goods…including homemade pie (sliced & whole), snacks, ice cream treats and beverages when available. Email us 24 hours in advance if you would like a farm visit; respectful kids welcome, dogs are not because of the free range chickens.
7273 Palo Tia Road
Embarrass, MN 55732
218-208-7725
Tuesday 5pm – 7pm; Last Tuesday in May to September. At Whiteside Park. “Bringing you locally sourced and organic plants, produce, baked and canned goods from the finest producers, farmers and artisans in the Ely area.”
721 East Sheridan Street
Ely, MN 55731
Wednesday 8am – 1pm; Saturday 8am – 1pm; Beginning of May to end of October. “Locally Grown fresh fruits & vegetables. Honey and Maple Syrup. Home raised meats, Fresh Baked Goods, and Canned Goods.”
11 Golf Course Road
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Located about 8 miles south of the Mesabi Trail McKinley access point. Pick-your-own strawberries. Contact to Visit: Call 218-865-4732 before coming out, as the season changes from year to year and picking conditions change daily. Kids are welcome, no pets please.
6650 Bodas Road
Gilbert, MN 55741
218-865-4732
Friday 4pm – 6pm; Early June through end of September. At the Train Depot parking lot.
400 Pine Street
Tower, MN 55790
Located about 9 miles from Heritage Park in Embarrass, a future access point for the Mesabi Trail. Take a short tour of an intensively planted small organic vegetable farm that’s complimented by chickens & bees. See how a couple of high tunnels dramatically extend the short growing season. No charge to visit, but if you want to put in 15 minutes of sweat equity, that would be greatly appreciated! Kids absolutely welcome; dogs must be leashed and kept away from the chickens. Farmer Jana says: “I love playing in the dirt all day, and seeing the life that abounds beneath our feet. And I love sharing great-tasting, healthy food with people.” Contact for a Visit: Email fatchickenfarm@gmail.com to schedule a visit, or take your chances and stop by! Amenities: water, bathroom, charging access, veggie samples if they are available.
6362 Taylor Road
Embarrass, MN 55732
218-749-2186
Legendary local butcher shop, featuring locally sourced providers and producers. Full-service meat counter, grocery, produce and dairy. Health, wellness and home goods. Hats, hoodies, T-Shirts…It’s all here! See you soon!
1108 8th Street South
Virginia, MN 55792
218-749-1330
Located about 11 miles SE of the Mesabi Trail Hibbing access point. Visit a real horse powered farm and established agri-tourism destination with various types of livestock. Admission $5 per person. Contact to Visit: Go to the website or email mredsfarmllc@gmail.com.
10796 Foss Road
Hibbing, MN 55746
218-966-1354
The area’s only natural foods co-op is located just steps from the Mesabi Trail. All produce is organic and comes from local farmers when available. Offering premium groceries, bulk foods, all-natural body care, supplements, and a great selection of local products. In-house deli offers lunch specials, grab & go foods, fruit smoothies, and a full service coffee bar.
732 4th Street North
Virginia, MN 55792
218-741-4663
Located about 7 miles SE of the Grand Rapids access point.U-pick strawberries and blueberries; plus apples, tart cherries, vegetables, and honey in season. Contact for a Visit: Call 218-327-9199 for current picking availability.
28056 County Road 441
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-327-9199
Thursday 2:30pm – 6pm; First week in June through the end of October. “Locally grown produce, eggs, meat, bread, pickles & jams, herbal body care, soap, baked goods.”
111 South 9th Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
