Their Frozen Vegetables Are Still Organic

Their Frozen Vegetables Are Still Organic Sno Pac Foods of Caledonia, Minn., has been growing, processing and selling certified organic vegetables for over 80 years. “The organic industry has grown immensely since we started in 1943,” says company representative Peter Gengler. “We started out selling locally, then grew along with the industry.” Company founder J.P. Gengler was ahead of his time. Around 1900, he began growing produce with organic practices, operating under the belief that food and farming shouldn’t require excess chemicals or pesticides. He cared about the health of his customers and the land he farmed. Beyond the farm, Gengler started a lumber business and harvested ice from a nearby pond, storing it in icehouses for shipping across the country by railway in the summer. Gengler’s relative, Leonard Gengler, saw potential in the newly invented mechanical refrigeration for furthering their market reach. He built a locker plant where locals could rent freezer space. He purchased a farm and began raising berries and vegetables to process and freeze at the plant. Demand grew, and soon Sno Pac supported consumers across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Today, the original vision continues as the fourth generation of Genglers upholds their commitment to the company’s founding ideals. They remain as committed to organic practices and the natural world as they always have. “The frozen vegetable business depends entirely on the weather, all the way from planting, cultivating, growing and harvesting,” Gengler says. The produce attracted attention even before healthy eating became popular, as customers bought it because they enjoyed the flavor. Many customers come from families that have eaten Sno Pac vegetables for three or four generations, and even drive straight to the processing plant to pick up their yearly supply. “We have product across the USA and some exports as well,” Gengler says. I expect the organic industry to continue to grow. Our product is available at stores across the country.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Peter Gengler, Sno Pac Foods, Inc., 521 W. Enterprise Dr., Caledonia, Minn. 55921 (ph 507-725-5281 or 800-533-2215; snopac@snopac.com; www.snopac.com).

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