Sept. 5, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness.

If you can order groceries online for pickup, you can shop local and support area producers.

That’s the concept behind the Dakota Fresh Food Hub, which launched in 2016 and has grown steadily as a way for consumers, grocers and restaurateurs to buy local food.

“It functions very much like an online farmers market,” said Alicia ElMamouni, owner of Little Greens Microgreens, who assists with marketing the food hub.

“You can pick out your produce, your milk, soap, meats, whatever is offered that week. You put it all in your shopping cart at once and then pick it up.”

Dakota Fresh Food Hub serves a conglomerate of local producers within a 150-mile radius of Sioux Falls. Farmer-owned, the collective allows producers to pool their resources to market and distribute products.

“This year has been really good for everybody I think,” ElMamouni said. “We’ve had some grants awarded that have allowed us to serve some local food pantries, which has been awesome, and I think some increased marketing has allowed more visibility and made people gain a better awareness of what’s available.”

Now, GreatLIFE members have even more reason to shop the food hub. They receive 5 percent off each shopping trip, and a reusable bag fee is waived.

“For us, it’s a natural partnership,” said GreatLIFE’s Krista Youngberg, who helps oversee member benefits. “We love the easy access to fresh, healthy food and how this allows our members to easily support local producers.”

It made a lot of sense for Dakota Fresh too, ElMamouni said.

“It seemed like a very organic pairing because typically people who are active and going to the gym are more inclined to eat healthy and are looking for healthier options,” she said. “We’ve been glad to make the offer available.”

How it works

Considering buying for the first time? Here’s what to know.

Start by creating a log-in at dakotafreshllc.com using just your email.

Then, come back each week anytime from 8 a.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Tuesday to make your selections for the week.

On Thursday, pick up your purchases at Altered Species Ales, 2101 W. 41st St. Orders for restaurants and other businesses generally are delivered.

“Produce is usually harvested within one to two days of you getting it, so it’s fresh and retains a lot of nutrients,” ElMamouni said. “This time of year, we have a huge selection – we still have tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, radishes, zucchini, cucumber and beans, plus we will have more fall and winter foods like squash, larger potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables, and garlic is coming out right now.”

Plus, you’ll find a huge variety of cheese, honey, grass-fed meats, milk, eggs and even ice cream.

“I grow microgreens and sprouts and joined because I wanted a little more visibility,” ElMamouni added. “As a producer, it’s an advantage because they handle all my distribution and invoicing, which was taking a huge chunk of time because I have a full-time job as well.”

There are 13 producers involved for now, she added.

“That really allows us to offer a little of everything and have a nice offering throughout most of the year.”

To learn more about GreatLIFE member benefits, click here.