focus2012

Just over eight years ago, Karin and Ron Koenen and their sons decided to grow their traditional corn and soybean farm in a way entirely new to the Chippewa County prairie. They planted cold-hardy grape hybrids developed by the University of Minnesota in a vineyard on their working...

Kandiyohi County was one of the last in the state to go "wet," holding off until 1966 before it would allow the sale of intoxicating beverages. Good things come to those who wait. Kandiyohi County is now home to an award-winning winery of its own. Glacial Ridge Winery is one of...

The Benson Bakery may look like a small business, but Toby Johannessen and his staff can bake hundreds of dozens of whole grain rolls in a single day. They had an order like that not too long ago, when the Willmar, New London-Spicer and Montevideo school lunch programs asked for...

When Albert Angrimson began farming this land in western Chippewa County in 1910, just about every community had its own mill to grind wheat to flour. Today, the mill is on the farm and it is the fourth generation of the family responsible for raising the wheat. Just like more than...

The turkey burgers were on the grill. The cameras were ready to roll. In case the crowd wasn't large enough, Jennie-O Turkey Store had hired some actors to help film its new television ad, set outside a California taco shop and touting the taste of lower-calorie, lower-fat burgers...

It all started with a love of Belgian chocolate truffles. While traveling across Europe as president of the World Photography Association in the 1980s, Dwight Barnes frequented the best chocolate shops Europe had to offer. He grew to love the Belgian chocolate truffles best of all....

Every day, people across the country likely consume products made by Associated Milk Producers Inc. without even realizing it. AMPI, which is headquartered in New Ulm and has plants in Dawson and Paynesville, among others, produces cheese, butter and dried whey products. These products...

First District Association in Litchfield has come a long way in its 91-year history. But that's not to say it comes from humble beginnings. When the cooperative was formed in 1921, it quickly grew to encompass 13 smaller creameries in the Meeker County region. As a new, larger cooperative,...

Given the fact that Minnesotans know a little bit about being cold, it seems rather appropriate that a Minnesota company would make equipment that does things like "blast freezing" and "spiral cooling." American Industrial Refrigeration's manufacturing facility and field education...