FROM 7 am – 6 pm DAILY, Louise tends a tiny produce stand along a paved road in the unincorporated northwestern Steele County settlement of Meriden.
That’s where I met her on a recent mid-October Sunday afternoon—outside a shed the size of an outhouse. Louise lives right next door to Teb’s Food Stand, a seasonal business owned by her friend, Teborah Kath. Teb, she noted, was likely, in that moment, busy canning vegetables at her nearby country home.
Garden-fresh and canned vegetables define the bulk of inventory tucked inside this hand-built shed constructed of salvaged wood, galvanized metal and a modern front door.
Here quart and pint jars edge shelves. Green beans pack tightly inside jars labeled Dilly Beans. Rich red tomato sauce colors Teb’s salsa. Oranges and reds and yellows mix inside jars of Cherry Tomato Mix and Peppers, splashing vibrant autumn hues. For pickle lovers, Teb crafts dill and bread & butter pickles.
She also sells baked goods—I spotted a singular package of bread. Next to the face masks, accessories and scrubbies.
Seasonal fresh produce is sold here, too, and artfully staged. Piles of assorted squash fill metal tubs. Pumpkins hug a corner near the door. Decorative corn and gourds rest on shelves. And outside more pumpkins and a collection of mum plants define this as a seasonal mini marketplace.
Chatting with Louise, who stepped aside when I started taking photos, proved a delight. Considering her 11-hour days at this less-than-busy location, I asked how she passes the time. Reading? She’s not much of a reader, she said, referencing her farm upbringing and the need to stay physically active. Sometimes she leaves temporarily to do chores at home—like mowing her lawn. Or sometimes she simply has other things going on that take her away from the roadside stand.
A handwritten sign next to a locked honor system box directs customers to go next door or call Louise with questions. But don’t count on her having change. She doesn’t. I purchased two squash for $4, almost $5.
In addition to this small town produce stand, Teb also sells her garden and craft and baked goods at the Owatonna Farmers’ Market. Sales are good, even at the remote Meriden location, Louise noted.
Meriden is one of those rural places perhaps unknown to many. Driving into town, I noticed a former creamery, the brick building in remarkable condition.
But it is the cluster of mammoth grain bins which landmark Meriden. Homes line the road past the elevator to a dead end, an unwelcome warning sign marking the end of the street.
Back at Teb’s Food Stand, conversation halted when a train car and locomotive rolled into town, horn blaring. Soon it reversed course, crossing the tracks again, horn blaring.
By then I’d gathered enough photos and information to craft a story. To write about Lousie and Teb and this tiny produce stand edging a paved road next to a harvested bean field in Meriden, Minnesota.
NOTE: Teb’s Food Stand will close soon for the season, if it’s not already closed.
© Copyright 2021 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Beautiful produce. I like these roadside stands…not too common in our area.
Yes, Teb, has beautiful offerings. I always appreciate these roadside stands, but, like you, don’t see all that many in our area.
Amazing how this little food stand encapsulates fall in Southern Minnesota — the canned produce, gourds, pumpkins, mums, home baked goods, colorful corn bundles. Meriden was one of those little villages we would refer to when I was growing up in Steele County — someone lived west of Meriden, etc. and I may have even been there a few times. So, of course, I enjoyed going back through your post.
Thank you for appreciating my post that takes you back to your Steele County roots.
And if you would need one, you could purchase the shed and use for an ice fishing shack or something else.
Randy, thanks for reminding me that the shed can be purchased.
Such a quaint little shed of goodies. I might have snatched those dilly beans 🙂
I like your description of “quaint little shed of goodies.”
My wife loves little farm stands like these. We have a farmers market a few subway stops away near Inwood Park every Sunday. It had just started again. so many wonderful food items and fresh produce. Since the pandemic started and because we still have a young child, we get these food coupons that we can spend there. It is such a godsend.
Keith, I am happy to hear about a farm stand in NYC. I’m also curious about those coupons and would like to learn more. It’s a great idea. Our local farmers’ market was handing out coupons toward produce to kids and seniors (like me) during a special kids’ day event.
These are EBT coupons. They are given out to families with children in the public schools, as school lunches are limited. We were surprised to find out that the farm stands accept them.
I think it’s great that farm stands accept these coupons. I’m sorry to hear that lunches are limited in your public schools.
We send Ethan to school with lunch anyway, as he does not like school lunches. So it is a win situation.
Perfect. Win-win.
That’s a great idea! Beautiful little place
I do love the little shed. So cute. And perfect as a roadside stand.