State Fair to Go provides meal kits with Minnesota State Fair favorites.
State Fair to Go (SFTG), a themed meal kit provider started by local entrepreneur Josh Zamansky, returns this summer with two new boxes filled with items from the Minnesota State Fair.
Zamansky launched the venture in August 2020 when his corporate catering business, Dining Delivered, took a downturn due to the pandemic. He credits the business idea to his sister, who suggested developing a fair food favorites meal kit after the Minnesota State Fair was canceled. The response was immediate.
“We sold out of our initial production order in 24 hours,” Zamansky said. “We continued adding production, but last year, the whole food supply chain was really affected by Covid shortages, so we frequently sold out.”
Last summer, SFTG sold 7,000 kits with minimal marketing efforts. Zamansky is optimistic that success will be repeated this year, even though the fair will run close to normal this year.
“This is a fun and easy way for any state fair-lover, regardless of location, to get items from the Minnesota State Fair shipped directly to their house, and people are all about that these days,” Zamansky said. “We’re also seeing a huge response from corporations who are buying these as gifts for employees and customers.”
This year, SFTG is offering two fair-themed meal kits: Signature Box and Blue Ribbon Box.
Similar to last year’s offering, the perishable Signature Box includes Sweet Martha’s cookie dough, Pronto Pups, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery cheese curds, Rosie’s Fries, State Fair mini donuts, and a coupon for 6 free ears of corn at Cub Foods. This kit serves eight and does require refrigerator/freezer space until you’re ready to make it.
“We partnered with Pronto Pup Company to include a build-your-own offering,” Zamansky said. “Each box includes 10 hot dogs, 10 skewers, and Pronto Pup signature batter. To compare, last year’s box included premade corndogs.”
The non-perishable “Blue Ribbon Box” includes The Jerky Shoppe meat sticks, Fernie’s funnel cake (and deep-fried Oreo) mix, State Fair taffy, Bare Honey sticks, Big Pop popcorn, and a Fairchild and Fairborne mug.
“People love the fair,” Zamansky said. “It’s exciting to build a new business filling a need and a love, and it’s an honor to partner with these concessionaires that have been at the fair for decades perfecting recipes and pleasing crowds.”
Each box costs $59.95 plus $10 shipping ($20 for out-of-state orders). Both options are available online at statefairtogo.com and will ship in August.