Nearly seventy years ago, Dale Peterson settled in Cannon Falls, MN, to do what he knew best: raise turkeys. In the early years, he shared a residence with incubators, and the sound of day-old turkeys routinely filled his home. Dale's wife, Fern, had grown up raising turkeys, and although she thought she had left them forever when she left home and became a school teacher, her plans changed when she met Dale! Fern was an avid advocate for the environment, and believed that everybody had a role to play in preserving our earth. The legacy of Fern and Dale guides our mission, so it's only fitting that the market is named in their honor...

Dale always believed that raising quality turkeys was the best contribution he could make to the world, and his formula for success was simple: he worked hard, treated customers as family, and cared deeply for both the land and his turkeys.

This tradition has continued for three generations. Although our days of literally sharing a home with turkeys are in the past, we are still committed to raising our turkeys naturally: free range during the warmer months and hormone-free all the time.

Ferndale Market is our way of continuing Fern and Dale's legacy. Our heritage will be evident if you visit us in the summer, when you're likely to see our turkeys outside, happily spending time "on the range" in the rolling hills of the Little Cannon River Valley.

As we open Ferndale Market in 2008, statistics reveal that the average food item will travel 1500-2000 miles to your dinner plate. If it's true that we are what we eat, then we must be world travelers through the mind-boggling and unsustainable shipping of our food items! We seek to reclaim the bounty of high-quality local agriculture and preserve our environment, all while inspiring people to eat meals that are full of flavor, good for your body, and good for the world.

As an extension of our mission and a way to make your meal complete, you'll see the shelves at Ferndale Market filled with other high-quality local meats. You'll also find fine Minnesota cheeses, milk, seasonal produce, and many other specialty foods. Whether you're hosting a holiday party, or making dinner for two, Ferndale Market promises to carry all you need to make your meal extra-special, delicious, and responsible. You can rest assured; you'll leave our store knowing you have helped support local farmers and a sustainable lifestyle.

We invite you to visit Ferndale Market. And don't forget to thank the turkeys on your way out!