For many of us, pie is the flavor of fall. Golden crusts, bubbling fruit, and the aroma of butter and sugar filling the air warms the heart as the air grows colder. Behind every slice of Seward Co-op’s scratch-made pies is a story of care, craft, and community. One of the people bringing that story to life is C (he/they), a creative Bakery supervisor working in our kitchen.

C’s baking journey began in Lincoln, Neb., when he was 18 at a local grocery store. Later, he moved to a co-op, where he spent four years honing his skills and learning what it means to bake for a community. After working in several restaurant kitchens as a cook and baker, C moved to Minneapolis in 2018 and found a career at Seward Co-op.

“Being visibly queer, it’s important that I feel safe in my workplace,” C shares. “Co-ops have felt like a safe landing, as organizations that acknowledge and support diverse populations more than many traditional businesses. When I moved here in 2018, I was looking for work and applied as a baker at Seward Co-op hearing it was a good spot.”

C has been part of Seward Co-op’s team for seven years now, and one thing that stands out to him is how the work changes with the seasons. While he bakes year-round, nothing compares to the bustling pace of Harvest season, what he calls “the busiest time of year.” Preparation begins in early September, when the team mixes and rolls hundreds of 9-ounce dough disks that will become crusts for apple, cherry, pumpkin, and pecan pies. The dough can be refrigerated or frozen, allowing the team to build up a steady supply before the rush hits.

Starting with the crust and down to the filling, every pie that comes out of Seward Co-op’s ovens is made from scratch. “Our pies are made with care over the course of days,” C explains.

For fruit pies like cherry—one of C’s favorites—the process of cooking the filling is comforting. Cherries are simmered on the stove at low heat with sugar to release their juices, then boiled with a cornstarch slurry to thicken into a glossy filling. The same buttery dough is used for both the crust and the topping.

As all the pieces come together and the ovens fill with the scent of fruit and butter, the kitchen hums with teamwork. “It makes me proud,” C says. “I love what I do, and I’m proud of the place I work for and the people I work with. When customers tell us they love our pies, it’s validating, and means we’re doing something right.”

Next time you enjoy a slice of Seward-made pie, know that it comes from the hands of someone who truly loves what they do—one disk of dough, one simmering pot of cherries, and one perfectly baked crust at a time.

You can find Seward-made pies in our freezers, as well as in our Deli.