VAN MANEN SWEET CORN & FRESH PRODUCE
Jacob and Emily Van Manen
Van Manen Sweet Corn & Fresh Produce is located in Kellogg and is owned by Jacob and Emily Van Manen. They began by growing ½ acre of sweet corn in 1997. Now they produce 20 acres of sweet corn, a high tunnel of tomatoes, two acres of fall produce including pumpkins, squash, mums and ornamental corn, and Muscatine watermelons and cantaloupe. They also collaborate with five other farms across Iowa to produce mums and other vegetables. The farm sells its produce at four roadside stands, six grocery stores and to two wholesale distributors.
Van Manen Sweet Corn & Fresh Produce’s Choose Iowa grant project will build a large processing facility that will include cold and dry storage, sorting and processing area, a drain system for more efficient washing of produce, and a customer pick-up area. This will add value to the farm’s agricultural products and improve its on-farm retail capabilities.
The Van Manens expect to increase sales by 25 percent. In addition, they anticipate the project will increase their customer base as well as the number of farms with whom they collaborate. This project will support the Van Manens’ dedication to producing high quality produce for Iowa communities.
