Exhibit 5.1

May 21, 2004

Board of Directors
Nash Finch Company
7600 France Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55435

Re:     Nash Finch Company Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am the Assistant General Counsel of Nash Finch Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the Company’s Income Deferral Plan (the “Plan”) and the issuance under the Plan of deferred compensation obligations (the “Obligations”), which represent the obligation of the Company to pay deferred compensation and other amounts credited to accounts established under the Plan in the future in accordance with the Plan. In that capacity, I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents and corporate records relating to the Obligations as I have deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with this opinion, including the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, its Bylaws, as amended, the Plan, and the Registration Statement. I have also reviewed such matters of law as I have deemed necessary for this opinion.

     Accordingly, based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

     1. The Company is duly and validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

     2. All necessary corporate action has been taken by the Company to adopt the Plan, and the Plan is a validly existing plan of the Company.

     3. When created in accordance with the Plan, the Obligations will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan, subject as to enforcement to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and (ii) general principles of equity, whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. I also consent to the reference to me under the caption “Interests of Named Experts and Counsel” contained in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ John A. Haveman

John A. Haveman

Assistant General Counsel