NorthIowaToday.com

Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

Ground broken Wednesday in Mason City for Bushel Boy Farms’ tomato facility

MASON CITY – Ground was broken today in Mason City for the new Bushel Boy Farms’ tomato facility on the city’s south side.

Minnesota-based Bushel Boy Farms expands its commitment to meeting Midwest demand for local, high-quality fresh produce as it breaks ground on a new 50-acre facility in Mason City, Iowa on Sept. 11. The $35 million investment in the new facility will increase current production by 50% and is expected to bring approximately 50 full-time jobs to the city. Tomatoes will be the initial crop.

The groundbreaking commences phase one of a three-phase project and entails development of a 16.5-acre high-tech greenhouse. The project is scheduled for completion in October of 2020, with the first harvest expected in December of that year.

“The economic potential that this expansion will have on Mason City and greater Iowa is significant,” said Chad Schreck, President and Chief Executive Officer of North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation (EDC). “We look forward to continued partnership with Bushel Boy and to the positive impact the expansion will have on our communities.”

The Iowa expansion does not affect Bushel Boy’s continued commitment to its Owatonna, Minnesota operations, as construction is currently underway on a 4.5-acre research and development greenhouse that will both increase production at its flagship facility and increase the variety of tomato offered. The construction phase of the project is set for completion in December 2019 with production starting in early 2020. Once both projects are complete, Bushel Boy will have 48 acres of greenhouse space, with infrastructure in place for 33 more acres. These projects will provide the company an enhanced ability to offer a wide variety of locally grown, premium fresh produce to the upper Midwest.

“These expansions will not only allow us to serve our existing customer base but will provide us the opportunity to seek new business relationships and expand existing partnerships with retailers, wholesalers and food service distributors,” said Steve Irland, President of Bushel Boy Farms. “We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from the city of Mason City and its government officials, as well as support at the county and state level and with the North Iowa Corridor EDC.”

The new facility marks a period of rapid expansion for Bushel Boy, which was acquired by Shakopee-based Rahr Corporation in November 2018. To learn more about Bushel Boy, visit www.bushelboy.com.

Bushel Boy Farms was founded in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1990 with a simple desire to grow fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes year-round, even in the depth of a Minnesota winter. Known for their red, ripe color and fresh garden flavor, Bushel Boy has been supplying the upper Midwest with tomatoes year-round—long before locally grown was an important consumer buying consideration. Bushel Boy’s expert agriculture team has created the perfect growing environment, combining the latest in greenhouse design and technology with the hands-on TLC it takes to produce the sweetest, juiciest tomatoes. Bushel Boy tomatoes are always picked ripe on the vine, carefully packed and rapidly shipped for maximum freshness and flavor. To learn more, visit www.bushelboy.com.

Photo via North Iowa Corridor EDC social media

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

14 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Even more news:

Need help with your website?
Call your local professional,
Breakthrough Web Design:
515-897-1144
or go to
BreakthroughWebDesign.com

Copyright 2024 – Internet Marketing Pros. of Iowa, Inc.
14
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x