Global Groceries

Ethnic grocery stores—or standard supermarkets—aren’t the only place to get good food in the Twin Cities. Vegetable gardens are becoming more and more popular among locavores, fresh food fans, and organic eaters. People grow vegetables, not only for the food they produce but for the exercise, the friendships, and the fun. But there was a time when gardens meant a lot more. They meant saving the world for democracy.

Recently I've enjoyed finding new ethnic markets in the Twin Cities suburbs—but with the price of gasoline spiking, I needed to find an ethnic grocery a little closer to home. I headed up Chicago Avenue toward the Lake Street, then turned east keeping my eyes open for some place interesting. That’s how I ended up at La Alborada Market at the corner of Lake and 19th, a mostly Mexican grocery owned by the Cruz family.

The sign on the front of the store says “Food Market—African-American-Caribbean.” The owner’s business card says, "Ehoh Edward, CEO ‘EZ Stop Food Market.’" There are two mottos on his card: "For all your African food items,” and  “Always focusing on future growth."

“They got my name wrong on the card,” he said. “It’s Edoh Akakpo.”

A sign on the window of Supermercado Latino at 2312 Central Avenue announces "Produtos de Mexico," but don’t be fooled. This isn’t just another neighborhood Mexican grocery store. This small and somewhat dark little grocery caters to those who grew up with the foods of the Andes and for those just discovering them.