Yumzar

A new way for foodies to shop local

There’s still time left in farmers’-market season, but once the cold weather rolls around, tracking down favorite locally made products can get tricky. Fortunately, Yumzar, a new venture from three Minnesota foodies, not only finds the goods, but sends them to your door.

Yumzar’s virtual online farmers’ market features products from more than 30 Minnesota companies, from B.T. McElrath chocolate to brats from Butcher & the Boar. For now, foods are Minnesota-exclusive—but they hope to include future collections featuring artisan-made foods from across the country.

In addition to single products, Yumzar offers collections of goodies in gift boxes (the Some Like It Hot box is filled with treats taking Minnesota spice to new heights, from Lucky’s Hot Sauce to hot beef jerky from Cool Jerk).

Yumzar sent over a box of sample goods that included some familiar brands (Proper People Toffee Waffle cookies) and some new-to-me choices (Nots! Sunflower Snacks). Among the offerings were a bottle of Mille Lacs maple syrup that inspired me to whip up a stack of blueberry-cornmeal pancakes, and Ing: Canning Co.’s tangy cranberry ketchup served as the perfect counterpart for salty oven fries. I can definitely see enjoying this taste of Minnesota in the dead of winter—without having to trek to a specialty store in a blizzard.

yumzar.com