Lakewinds 50th Anniversary

This year marks a special milestone: Lakewinds’ 50th anniversary! Throughout the year, we’ll be marking the occasion in ways big and small, as we celebrate our past and look forward to what’s next.

Following are some of the fun ways we’re celebrating, as we say “cheers” and plan for the next 50!

Lakewinds 50th Annual Owner Meeting

Sept. 14, 2025 | Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista

We’ll have special celebrations at our Annual Meeting this year. We’re saving some surprises, but you can look forward to:

  • Food trucks
  • Photo booth
  • Special desserts
  • And more!

Lakewinds’ milestones at a glance

Some things have stayed the same since Lakewinds’ humble beginnings in 1975: support for farmers, love for local, care for community, focus on the environment. But there have been major changes, too, since the first owners set up burlap sacks of grain and divvied it out into individual portions. Here are a few of the highlights we reflect on as we look back on our last 50 years.

Lakewinds began in 1972, when Edie

Green, Helen Davis, and Edith Stodola

founded the Minnetonka Buying Club.

In 1975 the buying club officially became a

co-op and moved into the recognizable

“Red Shack” behind St. Luke Church.

In 1983, Lakewinds moved to Minnetonka

Blvd (one building over from where it is now).

Co-op members voted to change from a

worker-based co-op to a consumer co-op

in 1989, resulting in a name change, too.

Lakewinds appointed its first official

general manager, Kris Nelson, in 1990.

1990 marked the co-op’s first annual plant

sale, which is held each year in May.

Lakewinds moved to the corner of

Hwy 101 and Mtka Blvd in 1995.

In 1995, the co-op added the meat

department, which has sustainably,

ethically raised meat, most of it local.

Lakewinds started rewarding shoppers

for bringing in reusable bags. The

“green patch” program is now

automated at the register.

In 1998 the co-op gets a fresh

look with a new logo.

Lakewinds opened its Natural Home

Store, which was next door to the

Minnetonka location, in 1998.

Lakewinds launched its

website in 1998.

In 2000, Lakewinds hit the milestone

of having 5,000 owners!

Lakewinds merged with the

Anoka Co-op in 2003.

Construction on a new location in

Chanhassen began in 2005, with

the grand opening in early 2006.

The Minnetonka store moved to its

current (and larger) location in 2006.

Libby Trader became the co-op’s

second general manager in 2007.

In 2009, the co-op joins social

media, with the creation

of a Facebook account.

In 2010, Lakewinds launched an

in-kind donation program to

support local nonprofits.

After serving on the Lakewinds board,

Dale Woodbeck is hired as the co-op’s

third general manager in 2010.

In 2011, the co-op gets a fresh

look with a new logo.

The Lakewinds Organic Field Fund

(LOFF) grant program launches in

2011, supporting local, sustainable

farmers with funds for farm projects.

In 2014, the co-op changes its

name from Lakewinds Natural

Foods to Lakewinds Food Co-op,

resulting in a new look & logo.

In 2014, our third location opened in

Richfield, thanks in large part to our

generous owners, who loaned us $1.8

million for the project.

Following the rebrand, the

Chanhassen and Minnetonka

locations get a new look in 2015.

The Community Giving Round Up

program, which allows customers

to round up for local nonprofits,

was launched in 2015.

After working at Lakewinds for

many years, Greg Dick is hired

as the fourth general manager.

Deli vault recipes

Over the years, the deli has crafted hundreds of incredible recipes. Sometimes we have to retire recipes (even popular ones) to make space for new dishes. This year, we’re opening up the “deli vault” and sharing some of those old favorites with you. Stay tuned throughout the year to rediscover old favorites or try some new recipes from the co-op!

See the recipes

More links

Many of the co-op’s more recent milestones have been captured on video. See how the Lakewinds team felt after we raised $1 million through the Community Giving Round Up program, or hear from local farmers who received grants through the Lakewinds Organic Field Fund. Giving back to community, supporting the local food system, and helping our food shelf partners are core to Lakewinds’ values, and we are determined to carry this part of our mission forward throughout the following 50 years, too!

Lakewinds, in partnership with The Food Group, launch the Farm to Food Bank Project in 2018.

In 2021, Community Giving Round Up surpassed $1 million in donations to local nonprofit organizations in the history of the program.

In partnership with The Good Acre, the Maker to Market food accelerator program was launched in 2017 to support small makers in their journey to retail shelves.

Catch up with the latest cohort of Lakewinds Organic Field Fund recipients from 2024.

In 2020, our LOFF grant program funded 15 farms totaling nearly $110,000, which is the highest single-year amount granted to date.

Flashback to 2012 — hear about five projects funded during the first year of the Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) grant program.

Learn more about Lakewinds’ ongoing environmental commitment, explore blog posts, or see more recipes.