Although down from 2019, Sweet Martha’s still rakes in the most dough at 2021 state fair

Rebecca Omastiak KSTP
A file photo of a Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar sign. (KSTP/File)

Although experiencing a drop in sales from 2019, sales were still sweet for a Minnesota State Fair staple: Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar reportedly earned over $3.2 million during the 2021 Great Minnesota Get-Together.

A list was released by fair representatives to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Monday, which ranked 10 food vendors based on their gross revenue from food sales during this year’s fair.

Following Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar, the next top-earning food vendors were:

  • Mouth Trap Cheese Curds – over $926,000
  • Fresh French Fries – over $844,000
  • Corn Roast – over $717,000
  • Midwest Dairy Association – over $646,000
  • Preferred Pickle – over $643,000
  • The Blue Barn – over $513,000
  • Carousel BBQ – over $502,000
  • Giggles’ Campfire Grill – over $467,000
  • Miller’s Flavored Cheese Curds – over $419,000

Last year’s fair attendance dipped dramatically compared with the record-setting early days of 2019, according to fair officials. Officials said weather played a big part in attendance, as did the pandemic.

RELATED: State Fair vendors report drastic decline in sales as weather, COVID-19 keep visitors at bay

Due to lower attendance—down about 40% in 2021 compared with the 2019 event —vendors said their revenue was also down, adding they had to deal with staffing shortages but found ways to make it work.

“We got it in, we had a fair, and I think the staff and the fairgoers appreciate the way that the fair staff and administration handled things coming into this year. Just the fact that we were able to be here is incredible,” Danny O’Gara, of O’Gara’s at the Fair, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS at the time.

For comparison, here are the 10 top-earning food vendors of 2019:

  • Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar – over $5 million
  • Mouth Trap Cheese Curds – over $1.45 million
  • Corn Roast – over $1.29 million
  • Fresh French Fries – over $1.12 million
  • Midwest Dairy Association – over $1.11 million
  • The Blue Barn – over $910,000
  • Preferred Pickle – over $855,000
  • Giggles Campfire Grill – over $712,000
  • Carousel BBQ – over $703,000
  • Miller’s Flavored Cheese Curds – over $643,000