Bushel Boy’s new CEO committed to growth, innovation

Bushel Boy’s

new CEO committed to growth, innovation

By ANDREW DEZIEL andrew.deziel@apgsomn.com

After more than two decades in college with a focus on agriculturof experience at General al trade and international commerce Mills and Pillsbury, Chuck and has worked on everything from Tryon has been brought in to help business strategy to market expanOwatonna-based Bushel Boy Farms sion to sustainable agriculture. increase its presence on local grocery The company’s investment in store shelves. Mason City has been particularly

Since joining the company five significant, with a facility that could months ago, easily be expanded to three times Tryon has its size. According to Tryon, that will overseen a suc- play an invaluable role in expanding cessful period the company’s reach across the Upof expansion. per Midwest. Most notably, “This will allow us to reach as far the company’s south as St. Louis and as far west as new 16.5-acre Omaha,” he said. “But our core margreenhouse ket area remains Minnesota, Iowa, in Mason City has enabled CHUCK TRYON Wisconsin and the Dakotas.” Tryon insisted that the investment Bushel Boy to in Mason City doesn’t mean that add strawberries and several new tomato varieties to its product line. So far, Tryon said that new product rollouts have been highly successful. While only currently available at a limited number of stores, Bushel Boy is planning to scale up its production of new greenhouseBushel Boy is turning its focus away from Owatonna. Indeed, the company is doubling down on Minnesota, rolling out its new product lines to select Twin Cities grocery stores. In Owatonna specifically, Bushel Boy is continuing to invest in revitalgrown fruits and vegetables quickly. izing the downtown district and

“We’re really pleased with the creating opportunities for young success we’ve seen, in terms of our people. Its partnerships with Owateam’s ability to grow a new crop,” he tonna High School and the Steele said. County Works program have only

Tryon says he is committed to not gotten stronger in recent months. only growth but innovation, while Through those partnerships, stumaintaining the highest quality dents are given the opportunity to standards. That means experiment- see what a career in a company such ing with new lighting techniques and as Bushel Boy might look like for other unique growing methods in its them. Such programs have become now expanded greenhouse space. particularly crucial in recent years

To stay on track, Tryon is drawing amid a particularly tight labor maron his extensive industry experience. ket. In particular, he touted his tenure at “It’s really welcome for us to Green Giant as particularly appli- have a business that wants to drive cable to navigating an increasingly improvements in the community complex and competitive industry. and attract talent,” said Owatonna

“(Being at Green Giant) really Chamber of Commerce and Tourism gave me a sense of how to operate President Brad Meier. a premium branded business in the world of vegetables,” he said.

The son of a successful grocer, Tryon studied international relations

Reach Reporter Andrew Deziel at 507-3333129 or follow him on Twitter @FDNandrew. © Copyright 2021 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Tomato plants grow at the Owatonna facility of Bushel Boy. Under the leadership of Chuck Tryon, Bushel Boy is expanding its reach and introducing new product lines while remaining committed to its Owatonna roots. (File photo/southernminn.com)

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JORDAN ANDREAS Multimedia Account Executive jordan.andreas@apgsomn.com 507-645-1134 AMBER CASTERTON Multimedia Account Executive amber.casterton@apgsomn.com 507-444-2388 KATHLEEN DAVIES Multimedia Account Executive kathleen.davies@apgsomn.com 507-931-8564 VICTORIA DAVIS Multimedia Account Executive victoria.davis@apgsomn.com 507-333-3110

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DEANNA WALTERS Multimedia Account Executive deanna.walters@apgsomn.com 507-333-3117 TIM MART Regional Digital Director tim.mart@apgsomn.com 763-486-5019

TOM KELLING Regional Advertising Director tom.kelling@apgsomn.com 507-444-2390

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