Northern Lakes Co-Op Specialty Products - Buy Wisconsin

The Northern Lakes Lakes Cooperative, Hayward's only community-owned food store, features a variety of state and local products. These offerings provide opportunity for you and the Northern Lakes Co-Op to help support Wisconsin's economic growth.

We proudly carry fresh, locally-produced items from:

Joe's Brats
Hayward, Wisconsin

Joe Jalowitz Sr. has been a part of the Northern Lakes Co-op almost since the very beginning. He began working in our meat department as manager in May 1953. He held this position for many years until retiring in the 1980s. Along the way, he took an interest in the production of brats and sausage.

It all began when a customer challenged him to make Potato Sausage the way his mom used to make it. It took Joe several attempts, but in the end he got it right. He has been producing Potato Sausage made this way ever since. All of the brats and sausages that we carry are Joe’s recipes…and we make them the old fashioned way, with all natural ingredients - no preservatives or fillers. From time to time, even though he is retired, you will see Joe and his wife Betty helping out at the Co-op for special promotions or back in the meat dept making his famous sausage.

Products available: Potato, Kielbasa, pork, polish, and hot or mild Italian sausage, bulk Italian and pork sausage, regular, jalapeno, wild rice, cranberry, German and cheddar brats

Futility Farms
Gilman, Wisconsin

Futility Farms is located in Gilman, WI, and owner/operator Bev Thompson raises her beef the “natural” way. Implants, antibiotics and artificial growth hormones are NOT used. In the summer months their cows are allowed to graze in wide open pastures, as well as being supplemented with grain. In the long cold winter months, the cows are fed an unlimited supply of hay. In 2006, Futility Farms was the recipient of a Gold Medal from Gallo Family Vineyards for first place in the Meat and Charcuterie category for their T-Bone steaks. Here is your chance to buy direct from the farmer. This meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork, and you’ll definitely taste the difference.

Products available: Burger, steaks, roasts, stew meat, short ribs, rib roasts, and soup bones

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Louie's Finer Meats
Cumberland, Wisconsin

Louie’s Finer Meats was founded by Louis Muench Sr. in 1970, and has been a family operated business and local icon for almost 40 years. They are involved in retail and wholesale sales as well as meat processing. During the last 15 years they have won over 100 International, National, and State awards for their sausages and other meat products. In May of 2007, at the International Trade Fair located in Frankfurt, Germany, Louie’s Finer Meats was awarded (6) gold medals, (2) silver medals, and (1) bronze medal for their sausages. In 2009, they were honored as the “Rice Lake Commercial/Retail Business of the Year, and Louie Muench Jr. was inducted in the “WI Meat Industry Hall of Fame”. Only 62 others have had the honor since it was founded in the early 1960’s.

Products available: Smoked meats, sausages, snack sticks, smoked butt, jerky, and bacon

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Lynn's Custom Meats and Catering
Hayward, Wisconsin

Lynn’s Custom Meats and Catering is now entering its second year of bringing fine deli and catering fare and old fashioned butcher shop service to the Hayward area. Lifelong resident Lynn Melton is the owner and operator. Her face is sure to be a familiar one, as she held the position of Deli Manager at Marketplace Foods for thirteen years. Upon leaving, she formed an alliance with Mitch and Mike Christman at The Meat Palace (aka Christman Meats). It was here that she would hone her entrepreneurial skills by establishing their catering services, grab and go lunch menu, and building their deli selection. In November of 2009 Lynn’s Custom Meats and Catering was presented with the “New Business of the Year” award by the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce.

Products available: Meat sticks, award winning brats, bacon and sausage from Christman's Meats

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Bodin's FIshery
Bayfield, Wisconsin

Bodin’s Fishery is a family operated business, run by a fourth generation fishing family just off the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield. They are dedicated to delivering their customers the freshest product possible. Once fish is harvested it is processed immediately. Their seafood is available either fresh, fresh frozen, or smoked. Northern Lakes Foods receives regular deliveries on a weekly basis to ensure that we have only the freshest and highest quality products on our shelves.

Products available: Fresh frozen lake trout, whitefish, herring, walleye and salmon

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Grandma Ferdon's
Hayward, Wisconsin

Grandma Ferdon’s is a certified 100% gluten and preservative free product. Owners Bill and Julie Swintowski started the business because Julie was diagnosed with Celiac Disease; so it’s not just their business… it IS their way of life. All of their foods are made the old fashioned way, WITHOUT gluten (wheat, barley, rye, and/or oats), soy, standard salts, and preservatives. Initially they wanted to provide other sufferers of Celiac Disease with the ease of frozen, made from scratch, home- style meals. From there the business grew to include wholesome natural products that non-sufferers can enjoy as well.

Products available: Bakery, dessert items, frozen doughs, pastas, seasonal items and entrees

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Racheli's Deli
Washburn, Wisconsin

Racheli’s Deli is a family owned and operated restaurant and deli located in Washburn, WI. Teena and Ugo Racheli have been providing the area with superb Italian Cuisine since 2004. The locals have fondly nicknamed the area surrounding their restaurant as “The Twin Silos”. Their business is backed by beautiful rolling farm land and the subsequent buildings, twin silos, are prominent in the background. They take pride in utilizing locally grown produce whenever possible, and no preservatives are added. Each pizza is then hand-rolled and frozen immediately to maintain freshness. Try one and you will agree that these pizzas are second to none… a culinary work of art!

Products available: The classics with mozzarella-stuffed crust, the classics with "hot" jalapeno cream cheese-stuffed crust, specialties: The Packer Backer and the Mediterranean, pasta sauces, lasagna

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Springbrook Organic Dairy
Springbrook, Wisconsin

Springbrook Organic Dairy Farm is owned and operated by Theresa & Jeff Depies, who both herald from a family history of farming. Their dairy evolved from a modest beginning when Theresa received a Jersey cow as a Mother’s Day gift back in 1990. This cow would serve as the inspiration to create a fully functioning organic dairy farm. As of today, their farm consists of 148 acres and 23 milk cows. The cows are grass fed and are not treated with antibiotics or hormones. Recently they added their own dairy plant to bottle the milk themselves on the farm. They are located only 12 miles from Hayward which means their milk is the freshest available.

Products available: Fresh organic milk and chocolate milk in returnable glass bottles.

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Backroads Coffee & Tea
Hayward, Wisconsin

Some of the best coffee that you will ever taste is roasted right here in Hayward, Wisconsin. Backroads Coffee and Tea was established in 1987. Teresa and Rod Peters roast their coffee in small batches, using state of the art equipment for perfect quality and taste. First they begin by using only 100 percent Arabica coffee beans, which are universally considered to be the world’s finest. Secondly, they sample or “cup” coffee from every bag of beans they purchase. By roasting coffee in small batches, and by cupping again, they further ensure consistency of quality from batch to batch. And since it’s roasted right here in Hayward, and you can grind it at home or in our store, it has no time to loose its precious flavor. Backroads Coffee and Tea was voted Small Business of the Year in 2008 by the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce. They were also voted New Business Of The Year 2009 and Targeted Business Enterprise 2009 by Indianhead Foodservice.

Products available: Whole bean, flavored and ground coffee, chai tea

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Sartori Cheese Company
Plymouth, Wisconsin

Sartori Foods is a privately-held, family-owned business located in Plymouth, WI., that was founded in 1939 when Paul Sartori immigrated from Italy to the United States. It has been passed down through the generations and is currently being run by Paul’s grandson, Jim Sartori. This family prides themselves in producing the highest quality, handcrafted, specialty cheese available on the market today. They only use milk from local dairy farms to ensure the freshest product. In 2006 they were awarded the “Best US Cows Milk Cheese” award at the World Cheese Awards, and in 2007 their SarVecchio Parmesan was awarded the “Best of Class” gold medal in the US Championship Cheese Contest.

Products available: Savecchio, bellavitaro, dolcina, and bellavitaro raspberry, merlot, and black pepper cheeses

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Beehive Botanicals
Hayward, Wisconsin

Beehive Botanicals has been a leader in natural products since 1972. They manufacture and sell dietary supplements, hair care, skin care and personal care products, which all contain at least one of the following ingredients: bee propolis, bee pollen, and/or royal jelly. They are the largest supplier of bee propolis in North America and sell to clientele worldwide.

Beehive Botanicals is kosher, organic, and NSF GMP certified, and uses state of the art equipment to maintain the highest standard of quality. They are members of the “America Apitherapy Association” and the “American Herbal Products Association."

Products available: Bee pollen, royal jelly, and propolis capsules, ProPol Guard lip balm, propolis throat spray, bath and body/personal care products

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