SLEEPY EYE — The owner and president of a pet treat manufacturing company announced June 23 that he has re-entered into a purchase agreement with Seneca Foods Corporation regarding the former Del Monte Corp. plant in Sleepy Eye.

“We are excited to re-sign this purchase agreement today, and to begin operations in the fall of 2021,” said Steve Trachtenberg of Chasing Our Tails.

“The Sleepy Eye facility is integral to the continued growth of all our company operations in 2021 and beyond. My entire team looks forward to become a part of the Sleepy Eye community,” said Trachtenberg, according to a June 23 email from Sleepy Eye Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Kurt Kramer.

Last winter, Chasing Our Tails reached an agreement with Seneca Foods to buy the former Del Monte plant for an undisclosed price, but backed out of the deal.

“It was a contractural item that needed to be remediated,” Trachtenberg said. “We’re excited to get the deal done. It’s been a long time coming. We have a few minor hurdles to overcome. We’re coming to Sleepy Eye because it’s a great building in a great community.”

Trachtenberg did not comment further on the details of his plans for the plant. He said there is no issue with the financial condition of his company which owns facilities in Tracy and Minneota.

With 215,000 square feet, the former Sleepy Eye Del Monte plant is located on 21 acres on the west end of town. It has been empty for nearly two years.

Del Monte announced soon after the August 2019 Buttered Corn Days event in Sleepy Eye that it planned to close the plant in October, along with several of its other plants at the end of the pack season as part of a restructuring plan.

Del Monte employed 69 full-time employees and 294 seasonal employees in its final production year in Sleepy Eye.

The first crop of Del Monte peas and sweet corn in the Sleepy Eye area were grown and processed in 1930. Horse-drawn implements and wagons were used to harvest and deliver crops to the plant. Pea vines were loaded by pitchfork. Sweet corn was picked by hand.

During World War II, a labor shortage made it necessary to hire local businessmen and foreign laborers including German Prisoners of War (POWs).

The Sleepy Eye Del Monte plant received the Achievement A Award, the highest federal government honor, from the War Food Administration as a reward for its excellence and cooperation in the war effort.

After WWII, mechanization rapidly improved farm and plant operation. The plant was credited with producing millions of cases of canned peas and sweet corn each year.

In more recent years, a number of large improvement projects were done at the plant. A wastewater project was done in 1994-95. Larger water mains and other utility improvements were done in 2005, in partnership with the City of Sleepy Eye.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.