About the Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is a versatile, multi-use space designed to serve both our own operations and the wider community. We use the kitchen for cooking classes, to preserve seasonal farm products, and to prepare food for our on-farm events. In addition, the kitchen is available for rent and meets South Dakota Department of Health commercial kitchen requirements, making it an ideal space for a wide range of users. Typical renters include small food businesses that need a licensed commercial kitchen to produce food products, local caterers, and chefs preparing for special events. The kitchen is also well suited for family and community projects such as canning, baking, and cooking in larger batches. Over the years, it has even become a gathering place for local businesses hosting staff events—such as holiday baking sessions and Christmas parties—bringing people together around food, learning, and shared experiences.

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is available for rent on a scheduled basis for approved users. Rental rates vary depending on the type of use, duration, and equipment needs.

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is designed to serve a wide range of users, including:

• Small food businesses and startups that need access to a South Dakota Department of Health–approved commercial kitchen to produce food products

• Local caterers preparing meals for events, meetings, and gatherings

• Chefs and food professionals working on special events, pop-ups, or limited-run projects

• Farmers and producers preserving seasonal harvests through canning, freezing, fermenting, or dehydrating

• Families and individuals working on large cooking, baking, or food preservation projects that require more space and equipment

• Community groups or local businesses hosting team activities, workshops, or holiday events—such as group baking sessions or staff Christmas parties

• Bear Butte Gardens staff, using the kitchen for food preservation, product development, classes, and on-farm events

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is located on-site at the farm, providing a quiet, functional setting that is easily accessible while remaining separate from public retail areas. The kitchen is a dedicated 16’ × 24’ space, thoughtfully laid out to support a wide range of food preparation, preservation, and production needs in a clean, organized, and efficient workspace.

The kitchen offers ample room for multiple workstations, making it suitable for individual projects, small teams, and group activities. Whether you are working solo, collaborating with staff, or coordinating a special event, the space is designed to promote smooth workflow and safe food handling

For approved users, the kitchen is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when not already scheduled. This flexible access allows renters, producers, and staff to plan work around production timelines, market schedules, seasonal harvests, or personal availability—an especially valuable benefit for food businesses and caterers with time-sensitive needs.

The kitchen is maintained to meet South Dakota Department of Health commercial kitchen standards and is regularly cleaned and monitored to ensure a safe, professional environment for all users. Clear scheduling, access, and use policies help ensure the space remains reliable, respectful, and ready for every project.

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is equipped to support a wide range of cooking, baking, food preservation, and small-scale production needs. Major equipment includes:

Cooking & Baking Equipment

• Vulcan commercial range with 6 burners and oven

• Bakers Pride commercial range with 6 burners and oven

• Vulcan commercial convection oven

• Commercial kitchen hood and ventilation system

Cold Storage & Food Preservation

• Large commercial refrigerator - for short-term use

• Large commercial freezer - for short-term use

• Large walk-in commercial refridgerator (outdoor) - for long-term use - additional space rental fees apply - coming soon(Q2 2026)!

• Large walk-in commercial freezer (outdoor) - for long-term use - additional space rental fees apply - coming soon(Q2 2026)!

• Blast chiller - for rapid cooling and food safety - additional use fees apply

• Freeze dryer - for long-term food preservation - additional use fees apply

• Multiple food dehydrators

Sinks & Sanitation

• Dedicated handwashing sink

• Food preparation sink

• Three-basin sink for dishwashing, rinsing, and sanitizing

Smallwares & Tools

• A wide variety of commercial-grade pots and pans

• A wide variety of kitchen knives, utensils, and prep tools

This combination of equipment allows the kitchen to support everything from cooking classes and catering prep to food preservation, product development, and family or community projects.

The Commercial Kitchen at Bear Butte Gardens is maintained to meet South Dakota Department of Health commercial kitchen requirements. All users are expected to follow applicable food safety regulations, safe food handling practices, and kitchen use policies at all times.

Use of the kitchen is subject to the following general guidelines:

• All renters and users must comply with South Dakota Department of Health regulations, including requirements related to food safety, sanitation, labeling, and storage.

• Users are responsible for ensuring they hold any required licenses, permits, or approvals for their specific food-related activities.

• Equipment must be used only as intended and in accordance with posted instructions or provided training.

• The kitchen must be left clean, sanitized, and orderly after each use, including proper dishwashing, surface sanitation, and waste disposal. Please use our Cleaning Checklist form.

• Personal items, ingredients, and finished products must be clearly labeled and stored in designated areas.

• Shared equipment and common areas must be respected to ensure a safe and functional environment for all users.

• Bear Butte Gardens reserves the right to restrict or deny use of equipment or facilities if health, safety, or compliance standards are not met.

These guidelines help ensure the kitchen remains a safe, reliable, and compliant space for staff, renters, and the broader community.