For the past three years, my holiday ritual has included bread.
My friend Bonnie Alton, owner of the Great Harvest Bread Company in St. Paul, drafted me to help with their holiday production and shipping. ‘Sure,’ I thought. I like bread and packing tape. Why not? I really had no idea what I was getting into.
You may be familiar with Great Harvest through their omnipresent race rolls, a staple at many running events. You may have even tried a slice of their bread at one of the TSL events where we hire their sparkling staff to provide samples. If you haven’t been to their bakery you owe yourself a treat. And the moment you walk through the door, you’ll be asked if you want one, in the form of a free sample.
This time of year the shelves are filled with special breads and treats: Finnish Pulla, Challah and Julekaka breads; Egg Nog and Merry Cherry Tea Breads; hot cocoa mix, Very Merry Chocolate Cherry cookies, and my favorite, Pine Cone Crunch (peanuts and cherries dipped in chocolate with a dash of hot spices added).
Like most customers, I had no idea exactly what happened to make that bread appear on the shelf. I’d seen the people at the bread table, working in the background, but I obliviously accepted my free sample, bought my bread and treats and went home to enjoy them. Now I know how much teamwork and care is involved in making the breads and treats, and it makes them taste even better.
Each step of the process is a blend of factory-like production and craftsman-like care. The ingredients are top quality, never including trans fats or high fructose corn syrup. What really impressed me was the teamwork it takes. Each step of the way the flexible Great Harvest staff comes together to create their magic, then quickly goes on to the next step. The holiday staff includes all the veterans, returning college students on break, and raw rookies, thrown into the mix at the busiest time of year. The sense of purpose and camaraderie is impressive. Perhaps a few government agencies could take note!
I am assisting with production, but my main role is to ship boxes. You may have never thought about shipping bread and treats halfway across the country, but hundreds of other people have. I maintain a database that spits out shipping labels and customized gift cards. The back storeroom at the bakery is converted to an ad hoc shipping center. On our peak days we package and ship nearly 100 boxes. That includes weighing, printing and applying postage, and dropping them off at the post office. (Note: you don’t have to wait in line if you already y have postage on your boxes!)
My own holiday list is very short, but I get vicarious pleasure out of shipping other people’s gifts. And I can’t help wondering: why does Frank get cookies but Marge gets Oregon Herb bread?
The next few days will be more production than shipping. I’ll even get to work the counter, seeing many familiar faces on the other side. It reminds me of all I miss from my days working retail at my former running store, GBS Sports. There is something special about providing goods and services that people need and want, at fair prices, with everyone smiling at the end of the transaction.
Enjoy your own holiday traditions. And please stop in your nearest Great Harvest store. You’re in for a treat, and they’ll make sure you get it.
Twin Cities Great Harvest Locations:
Bonnie's Neighborhood Bread Business
534 Selby Ave
St Paul, MN
651-221-1057
www.stpaulbread.com
Tom & Sally's Family Owned Bread Store
4314 Upton Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
612-929-2899
Michael & Ruth's Minnetonka Bread Store
17416 Minnetonka Blvd
Minnetonka, MN
952-476-2515
Woodbury
8160 Coller Way
Woodbury, MN
651-578-9756
Burnsville
1100 E Co Rd 42
Burnsville, MN
952-891-4767
