Our Model - Today's Harvest

Why It Works

Since 2021, Today’s Harvest, powered by Open Cupboard, has been operating as the state’s most-visited food access program. Today’s Harvest is a free market that provides fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bakery items we rescue each day from local grocery stores, farms, and other partners.

Today’s Harvest is a first-of-its-kind model designed to be low-barrier and high-access—allowing families to shop daily in a retail-like store that is open to all and doesn’t require shoppers to supply personal information. Our values of providing fresh, healthy food through our partnerships and creating a customer-centered environment inspired each decision while we developed the Today’s Harvest model.

A focus on making the “Top 4” desired items by food shelf clients, as identified in the 2022 Minnesota Food Shelf Survey, highly accessible to all.
We work to offer a high variety of produce throughout the year through our partnerships with local grocery stores, farmers, and food banks.
Through our partnerships with local retailers and food service partners, we are able to offer a variety of highly desirable fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bakery items daily. Our fleet of professional drivers collects donations from multiple donors throughout the day and our committed team of volunteers sort and restock food as soon as it arrives to ensure it reaches our shoppers when it is at its freshest.

From our fixtures, glass-door coolers and freezers, merchandising choices, and self-checkout, we are able to provide a familiar retail-like shopping experience to reduce stress and stigma around using food resources.
Throughout the market there are signs in English, Spanish, and Hmong–the most common languages spoken by shoppers. We also have multiple language options for our self-checkout to ensure our shoppers feel welcome.
Today’s Harvest offers shopping six days a week with no appointment needed. Our shoppers tell us they prefer having the accessibility of shopping without an appointment, even when that means there is sometimes a wait.
Our new market is located on the bus line, improving access for shoppers arriving on foot. With these shoppers in mind, we built/designed/included a large and welcoming waiting area.

The market model is open to all shoppers, has no geographic restrictions, and shoppers can come daily if needed. Our consistent, wide range of open hours (Monday to Friday 12pm-6pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm) make it easier for shoppers to plan their visits.
Merchandising strategies help us ensure the produce we offer is fresh, full, and abundant, offering our shoppers the choice, selection, and fresh experience that they value.
Traditional food shelves have an “intake” process at the beginning of the experience, where the visitor is asked to share personal information. This can often be difficult for first-time visitors. We eliminate the “intake” process by gathering required information via an autonomous self-checkout at the end of the shopping trip. Our shoppers tell us that it makes a huge difference in how the shopping experience feels.
Keeping shoppers in mind, we designed a large and welcoming waiting area.

The Impact

5,500 households served each week

643,389 individual visits in 2024

2.3 million pounds of food rescued in 2024

But the impact is more than just numbers, it is the feeling of…

Accessibility

I was very impressed by how easily accessible it was to use the program! Usually, I have always felt a little shameful or embarrassed with the thought of having to use a food shelf, but after the first time going into the shop, I felt very at ease.

Keesha

Diginity

I’m sure some people have the fear of being judged or are just too good to even think about using this program. I never realized how many people use these programs to help them get through life.

Mike

Welcome

I think it’s because everyone is so welcoming here. It doesn’t feel like a stigma. It’s different here. It’s really helpful.

JoHanna

Safety

As a single mom of three kids and domestic abuse survivor, I found this program lifesaving. I felt understood without oversharing what I have been going through. I feel safe with this program and loved!

Jackie

Stability

Words can’t express how much it has helped us. We’re grateful to be able to visit when we need and as often as we need. You never know when you’ll need the resources, and Open Cupboard is always there.

Luther

Flexibility

The free food allows me to put money toward other expenses, and the choice model helps me discover new foods.

Jeanne

If you would like to learn more about the Today’s Harvest model or would like a tour, please reach out to our Strategic Partnerships & Projects Director at april@opencupboard.org or 651-477-0733.