A “Free Farmers’ Market” food giveaway will be held at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Friday, marking five years since the market’s inception.
The event, put together by Minnesota United, Allianz Life and Keystone Community Services, will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The goal of the market is to feed people facing food insecurity in the Midway neighborhood and beyond. Allianz has hosted 22 markets since the professional soccer stadium opened in 2019.
Over the past five years, the markets have served over 9,800 households. That number is expected to surpass 10,000 on Friday.
“We’re trying to continuously combat food insecurity in the Midway neighborhood specifically, throughout the entirety of St. Paul and if there are people coming from different parts of the Twin Cities, they are all welcome as well,” said Minnesota United spokesman Aaron Tomich.
Food provided will include produce, like potatoes, apples and winter squash. A drive-through experience is available in the parking lot between Allianz Field and the McDonald’s on University Avenue. The market is walkable for those without a vehicle.
One in nine Minnesotans — approximately 500,000 people — currently experience food insecurity, according to Hunger Solutions Minnesota. State residents made over 7.5 million visits to food shelves last year.
Through the free farmers market events, Minnesota United, Allianz Life and Keystone Community Services have reached more than 41,600 people in the Midway and distributed 447,123 pounds of food, according to the team.
Minnesota United FC chief executive officer Shari Ballard, Allianz Life president and CEO Jasmine Jirele, Keystone Community Services CEO Adero Riser Cobb, and Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison O’Toole will all be in attendance to commemorate five years.
Allianz Field is located at 400 N. Snelling Ave. in St. Paul. For more information, visit keystoneservices.org/venue/allianz-field.