Local D'Lish, Minneapolis

Local D’Lish's owners Ann and Yulin Yin source all their food from more than 200 farmers throughout the Midwest. But the inspiration for their business came from their time spent living in China. Each morning they'd go down to the market to get fresh meat, produce, and tofu directly from farmers. As they got to know each farmer, they came to understand and trust the processes by which their food was produced. That experience also stuck with them when they moved to Minnesota, where their journey inspired them to recreate that market experience and start up Local D’Lish.

Above all, they help their customers connect with their food and understand where it all comes from. Beyond carefully curating the foods on their shelves and deli counters, they host in-store events where farmers and customers can meet and greet. They even lend space for cooking classes and demos that help students identify seasonal produce and turn it into delicious meals by following simple instructions such as "Take a bite, chew, and swallow."