A new local dairy store opened last Tuesday at the site of the former Hastings Dairy Store.
Hometown Dairy, run by Produce Plus, opened its doors Sept. 9 at 1700 Vermillion St. The store will …
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A new local dairy store opened last Tuesday at the site of the former Hastings Dairy Store.
Hometown Dairy, run by Produce Plus, opened its doors Sept. 9 at 1700 Vermillion St. The store will have various local goods from Greg’s Meats to Hanisch Bakery to Ellsworth cheese curds alongside deli fare like soups, sandwiches and ice cream.
“We’re excited to be part of the community,” said Kristi Blattner, one of the owners of Produce Plus.
If Produce Plus sounds familiar, that might be because for nearly the last decade, sweet or candy corn has been sold at the stand in the parking lot of the site from the company based out of Eyota, Minn.
According to Blattner, the stand will remain even as the store gets up and running.
Produce Plus is one of the largest family-owned sweet corn producers in Minnesota.
In addition to their famous “candy corn,” the Eyota farm produces a wide swath of melons, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions and peppers which can be found in roadside stalls around the state.
Remodeling and hiring for the site has been underway for months, adding counterspace for the new deli as well as a new ice cream machine.
While the candy corn stand has become a local landmark along Vermillion, the move from stand to store was one of happenstance: “The property became available. It went for sale and we bought it,” said Blattner.
Despite the soft opening, the workers at the stall, which has included Blattner, have faced a barrage of questions on the upcoming store.
“We haven’t even opened the doors but they’re always curious. They come in. It’s a small-town feel,” said Blattner.
One focus of the store is on local products from around the area including local eggs, milk and cheese.
“We want to use as much local products and people as possible,” said Blattner.
To that end, Blattner encourages local farmers to stop by the store if they are interested in working with the store.
