ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop opens at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24 to serve fairgoers their first cup of morning coffee on the opening day of the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. The Farmers Union Coffee Shop, located at 1635 Dan Patch Ave., will be open from 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day of the Minnesota State Fair.

This year, four new foods debut at the MFU Coffee Shop. The Fried Green Tomato Sandwich in two varieties, either BLT or vegetarian, made the Official 2023 New Fair Foods List. The sandwich starts with two deep-fried tomatoes coated with a crust of high lysine cornmeal from Whole Grain Milling. Mustard mayo from Lost Capital Foods, lettuce and bacon are added and are served on a toasted brioche bun from The Good Bread Bakery. The vegetarian version is served with a sweet corn relish in lieu of bacon.

The Fried Green Tomato Sandwich joins the Pork Schnitzel sandwich, which was a fair favorite when it was introduced last year. The sandwich features a crispy, breaded, deep-fried Minnesota pork loin, topped with pickled cabbage and mustard mayo on a toasted bun. The pork loin is from Hidden Stream Farm in Elgin, Pastures A Plenty Farm in Kerkhoven and Compart Family Farms in Nicollet.

The other three new items on the menu this year are a Farmer’s Berry Crumble, a muffin made from Madeleine batter, oat streusel and mixed berries; a Minnesota Sweet Corn Danish made from sweet corn mix, bechamel cream and cherry tomatoes in a puff pastry, and Rosemary Lemonade, which combines rosemary simple syrup with lemon juice.

These items join the full coffee bar led by the Maple Cream Nitro Cold Press Coffee, which was on the state fair’s new foods list in 2017.

“We have been busy renovating the coffee shop in preparation for the Minnesota State Fair and are eager to serve local foods to hungry fairgoers,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “We partner with family farmers and small businesses across the state to showcase the difference local foods make and to connect farmers to consumers through food. Stop by when you’re at the fair to taste the Minnesota difference.”

Other farmers providing products for the MFU Coffee Shop include Living Water Gardens, Wells; Prairie Hollow Farm, Elgin; Frisk Fra Boksen, Shoreview; Seven Songs Organic Farm, Kenyon, and Blue Fruit Farm, Winona.

MFU also highlights local foods through its Minnesota Cooks program. The 2024 Minnesota Cooks calendar will debut at the Minnesota State Fair and a limited number are available for free at the coffee shop. The calendar features stories, photos and recipes from Minnesota family farmers and chefs. Learn more about the Minnesota Cooks program at minnesotacooks.org.

About Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone. Learn more and join at www.mfu.org, and follow MFU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org).