Fare For All is a low-cost, mobile grocery purchase program- open to ALL. Shopping with Fare for All is a great way to save money on quality, nutritious food. We buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen meat in bulk to pass on deep discounts off typical grocery prices. We select the best food from our shipments, pre-packaging it to give you the best deals. It’s community-supported and open to everyone- there are no qualifications to participate and no pre-registration. By following a co-op model, the more people who shop Fare for All sales, the better the value becomes for everyone!
Fare For All has 30+ locations throughout the metro area and greater Minnesota where our food packages are sold.
Click here for the current schedule
Fare For All makes every attempt to remain open during severe weather, but if all area schools are closed, our trucks can’t function properly, and/or our operations staff determines that the trip is unsafe, we will cancel the site sale via email and Facebook. Find our Weather Policy here.
How Does it Work?
Fare For All buys fresh produce and frozen meat in bulk from wholesalers and manufacturers to find the best deals. Volunteers at our warehouse pre-pack the produce and meat into food packages that range in price from $10 – $30. These packages are then sold directly to you at all of our sale locations. All are welcome to shop with FFA! We visit each location for two hours at a time and accept cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards. Personal checks are NOT accepted.
Click here to find a sale location!
What’s For Sale?
We offer a variety of products that change throughout the year and may vary slightly from what is advertised. We offer a combination of fresh and frozen products at every sale. Items are sold in the following packs;
Mega Meat Pack– $25
- contains 7-9 frozen meat items
- may include chicken, turkey, pork, beef or fish
Mini Meat Pack– $11
- contains 3-5 frozen meat items
- may include chicken, turkey, beef or fish
- no pork
Produce Pack– $10
- contains 3-4 fresh fruit items
- contains 3-4 fresh veggie items
Combo Pack– $20
- a combination of the Mini Meat and Produce Pack
- save $1
Holiday Pack– $30
- seasonal- offered in November and December
- contains turkey or ham, protein and veggie sides, and seasonal dessert item
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I sign up or purchase in advance?
A: No, there is no pre-ordering or pre-registration. Fare for All is a program open to everyone, first come, first served.
Q: How do the sales work?
A: When you arrive, you’ll be given an order slip then guided through the socially-distanced line. You’ll be able to see photos of pack contents as you move through the line. There will not be a display table. When it’s your turn to purchase, the cashier will call you forward. Please have your order and payment ready. Card payments preferred, cash accepted. No checks. After payment, one of our volunteers will load your food into a cart, and bring it to your vehicle with you. If you’d rather push your own cart unassisted and bring the cart back, that’s fine! Just let our cashier know.
Q: Are there any qualifications to purchase food through Fare For All?
A: There are no qualifications or income restrictions; the program is open to everyone. No pre-registration or pre-payment is required. Click here to find a location near you!
Q: Can I pay with a credit or debit card?
A: Yes, absolutely. Fare For All accepts cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards.
Q: Can I pay with a check?
A: Unfortunately not. Fare for All is unable to accept personal checks.
Q: Where does the food come from?
A: All the food is purchased through wholesalers, manufacturers, or growers. The produce, depending on the season, is either sent from trusted wholesale partners all over the country or locally grown.
Q: What does the date on the meat I purchased indicate?
A: The date on your meat package is a “freeze by” date. Fare For All guarantees that the meat you receive has been hard frozen since before the “freeze by” date. Once frozen, the meat is safe to eat for up to two years after this date. The top priority is the health and safety of our customers, so Fare For All is very strict in following USDA guidelines on food dating, storage, and usage. For more information on food dating visit the USDA Website.
Q: How is Fare For All able to offer food at such a low cost?
A: Fare For All uses a cooperative food purchasing model that utilizes volume buying power. Fare For All purchases produce and meat in large quantities at wholesale prices. Participants are then able to buy their share of the bulk order for up to 40% savings.
Q: Can I purchase food items individually or do I have to buy the entire package?
A: Fare For All buys in bulk using a cooperative food purchasing model. Packages of food are put together in order to utilize volume purchasing power, and the savings is passed onto you. This is why our food is sold in packages.
Q: Why is FFA an important community resource?
A: Fare For All provides nutritious food items at a lower cost than a typical grocery store. It helps families stretch their food budget and access the foods that tend to be most expensive. Most government and emergency food assistance programs serve only low income families, so Fare For All serves as a good resource both for those families, and families and individuals who don’t meet certain income requirements.
Q: If I purchase food through this program, am I taking away food from someone else who may need it more than I do?
A: Absolutely not. The more people who participate in Fare For All, the more purchasing power the program has. It is similar to shopping at a co-op. More people shopping means greater savings will be shared by all!
Q: Does Fare for All run out of food?
A: Very rarely. The amount of food we bring to each location is based on the volume of sales from the previous year at that location. It is rare that we sell out of food, however it can happen- particularly during the extra busy holiday season.
Q: Is there a limit on quantities?
A: We reserve the right to limit quantities on the Hot Buy items, however we do not limit quantities on the mainstay packages (Mega Meat, Mini Meat, Produce or Combo pack). As a general courtesy, if you would like to purchase a quantity above five packs, please contact us at least 24 hours in advance at 763-450-3880 or [email protected].
