Lone Prairie Magazine

Lone Prairie Magazine

A buying culture on a no-return trajectory.

Julie R. Neidlinger
Dec 19, 2025
∙ Paid
Ranch-flavored cheese curds, peak Midwest.

I did not know you could return food.

“Was there something wrong with them?” the young store clerk asked the customer, a young woman barely older than her, across the checkout counter. On the belt were two packages of cheese curds and a package of round snack cheese. Both packages were crumpled, as if a cheese pe…

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2026 Julie R Neidlinger · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture