Apple Season Farm Store Hours

The A.R.F. Farm Store is now open! 

Store Hours

Wednesday 4:00-7:00

Thursday 4:00-7:00

Friday 9:00-12:00

Saturday 9:00-2:00 (mid-August-October)

Our farm is located 12 miles South of New Ulm, 23 miles West of Mankato and 8 miles North of Madelia, 1.5 miles off Hwy 15, at 11197 130th St, Madelia, MN 56062.

Turn in where you see our farm sign, and the open/closed sign; the Farm Store is located in the large rounded quonset hut.

What's in Store?

A mix of seasonal items, eggs and canned goods. Apples and apple cider during apple season! Summer greens - kale and chard - garlic, onions, cucumbers, basil and herbs, tomatoes - always changing with the seasons. During the winter (Oct-Mar) watch for baby winter salad greens, microgreens and pea shoots from our passive solar deep winter greenhouse.

Canned items include our ever popular no-sugar applesauce and apple butter, as well as strawberry jam, strawberry-rhubarb jam, and more.

Snapshot of mid-August: Apples, apple cider, eggs, cucumbers, zucchini, chard, kale, onions, basil, herbs, garlic, tomatoes, applesauce, apple butter, jams, herbal wellness.

Shopping Tips

•We take cash or check, please come prepared to pay exact change.
•Please bring reusable shopping bags to keep waste down. Plastic bags are available in store also.
•Contact us ahead of time for special orders, large orders, or out of hours appointments.

Now Picking Paula Red Apples!

Early Season • Sweet-tart

Ripens

Mid-late August

Characteristics

Paula Red apples are an attractive fruit with dusty red colored skin covered in gold spots and aromatic flesh. They have crisp white flesh that is juicy. The flavor is both sweet and tart, with a hint of cherry.  If you like McIntosh or Cortland give Paula Red a try. Uses: fresh eating, cooking, great for applesauce; mix in pies with another firmer apple.

History

Lewis Arrends discovered a Paula Red tree as a chance seedling in 1960 in Sparta, Michigan. He named the new variety after his wife Pauline. Paula Reds appeared on the market in 1968.

Offspring: .

Parentage: This variety is thought to have originated from mcIntosh, but its exact parentage is unknown.

Storage

2 months

Now Picking Zestar!

Now picking Zestar! apples! This is one of your favorites. Pick some up at the farm store or the Mankato Farmers' Market on Saturdays. It’s a great time of year to be eating local!

Zestar! Characteristics

A pleasing crisp texture, juicy, sweet-tart flavor with a hint of brown sugar. Skin is 60-85% red, where the sun hits it, contrasting with a creamy yellow skin. Round 3" diameter fruits. Excellent for fresh eating, storage varieties and great for cooking too.

Fall Apple Shares Now Available!

Fall Apple Shares Now Available!

Please holler at us with any and all questions!

Fall Apple Share

$54.00 :: 24 lbs/4 lb Bag x 6 weeks 

Beginning the first week of September

That's $2.25/lb, regularly $2.50/lb! Filled with standard and heirloom varieties, which change week-to-week - the best of what's in season. Last year we harvested over 20 varieties! Featuring organic & transitional organic apples hand-picked by your local apple farmers, John and Brooke. Weekly reminders will be sent out, along with nerdy apple information and recipes! 

Winter Apple Shares will be available later in the season. Applesauce and Apple Butter Shares are currently available.

Delivery: *Please pick an option that works for all 6 weeks.*

     (1) Wednesday @ the Farm 4:00-7:00 pm

     (2) Thursday @ the Farm 4:00-7:00 pm

     (3) Friday @ the Farm 9:00 am-Noon

     (4) Saturday @ the Farm 9:00 am-2:00 pm

     (5) Saturday @ the Mankato Farmers' Market 8:00 am-Noon

Reservation: complete the online ORDER FORM

Payment: Due at the time of reservation, cash or check please.

Farm Store Hours & New Items

We are so grateful to everyone who stopped to shop at our farm store in the first two weeks being open!! Folks enjoyed our first sales crop of raspberries, along with greens, eggs, jams and more.

Farm store is closed this week, but we'll re-open Wednesday August 7th with regular hours (below). Mid-August we'll add Saturday hours, for apple season!!

Watch for our FIRST APPLES OF THE SEASON next week! Pristine apples are delish!

Pristine are wonderfully tart, crisp, juicy and firm, with flavor and sweetness under the tartness.

What's Coming

Apples start with Pristine next week and continue regularly with Zestar! beginning mid-August. Watch for fresh garlic appearing over the next couple weeks. The first tomato has been picked, so tomatoes will be regular soon. Follow on facebook for updates!

Farm Store Hours

Wednesday 4:00-7:00
Thursday 4:00-7:00
Friday 9:00-12:00
Saturday *beginning August 17 9:00-2:00

Please come prepared to pay exact change cash or check. We're generally around, but the store runs on an honor system. Bring bags to keep plastic use down!

Farm Store Opening This Week!

Farm Store Opening Wednesday, July 17!!

Shop Wednesdays 4:00-7:00, Fridays 9:00-12:00

Alternative Roots Farm • 11197 130th St., Madelia

Raspberries available for a limited time, over the next couple weeks! Organic kale, chard, garlic scapes. Applesauce, apple butter, strawberry jam (limited!), strawberry rhubarb jam. Farm fresh eggs! More as the season moves on!!

We are excited to have you out to the farm!! Getting your food right from the source. We appreciate you supporting our family, and farm, in this way. And Leo appreciates fewer delivery drives! ;)

•Please come prepared with exact cash/check for the honor box.

•Please bring bags to keep plastic use down. Reduce reuse!

•Farm store is in the rounded quonset hut, the second driveway - pull in to park on the right, with overflow parking along the road.

Come see how the store has been updated!

Pick up a Garlic Scape Share at the store -  order here!!

What's a garlic scape?

Pick up your Fall Apple Share at the store -  order here!!

Coming Soon!

Farm Share Options Coming Soon!

We offer different share options that provide you with a discount on a little larger purchase of various items. Perfect for enjoying the best of each season and stocking the pantry or freezer!

Fall Apple Share Sign Up

Opening shortly! Beginning in September enjoy 6 weeks of seasonal organic/transitional organic apples. Pick up at the Saturday Mankato farmers market or on farm (12 miles South of New Ulm, 8 miles North of Madelia). More info: 2019 Shares.

$54.00 :: 24 lbs/4 lb Bag x 6 weeks

Tomato Shares

10 or 20 lbs boxes of organic, heirloom tomatoes for canning. For purchase during the season as available - join the wait list to be notified.

$28  ||  10 lbs  30% discount
$52  ||  20 lbs  35% discount

Pesto Shares

Includes 2 lbs of fresh, organic basil and 4 heads of organic garlic. Delivered as available in August/September. Eat it fresh and stock up your freezer.Add into scrambled eggs, pastas, spread on sandwiches or garlic bread or pizza. Delish! For purchase during the season as available - join the wait list to be notified.

$23.00  ||  2 lbs basil & 4 bulbs of garlic

Fall CSA Shares

Fall CSA Shares will be offered once in September, twice in October. Sign up for one, or all three, dates - coming soon. An on-farm market will also be available during Fall CSA pick up.

Full details coming soon!

Now Available!

Applesauce Shares  -  Apple Butter Shares

Applesauce Shares - A case of 12 quarts for $65. A popular option for the kiddos!

Apple Butter Shares - A six pack of butter to stock your pantry, $26.

Clean eating treats made with no extra sugar - just local honey!