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We are located in St. Ansgar: The Garden Spot of Iowa, where we have been growing and selling top quality potatoes and onions to local families and grocery stores for generations. 

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The Kittlesons started farming with their great-grandfather John F. Kittleson. They farmed an area on the eastern shore of the Red Cedar River, about two miles south of St. Ansgar, Iowa. Around the early 1900's John's son Charles Edward Kittleson grew tobacco on the farm. In the 1920s Carl and Julius Kittleson started growing onions and potatoes on the farm and this is what we still grow today! The farm has been passed through many generations and is now owned by Steve and Beth Rachut and Adam Koch.

OUR STORY

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Our History:

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  • 1862 The Kittleson family farm was started.  John F. Kittleson purchased land South of St. Ansgar from the Gilbertson family.

  • Early 1900s Charles Edward Kittleson (a son of John) grew tobacco on the farm.

  • 1920's Carl and Julius Kittleson started raising onions and potatoes on the main farm

  • 1930's The Kittlesons purchased peat land on the former Goose Lake, located north of Fertile, Iowa. Potatoes and onions were grown in Fertile and trucked to St. Ansgar. 

  • 1942 an onion warehouse was built on the farm south of St. Ansgar. 

  • 1930-1950 Potatoes were stored in basements of long buildings along the railroad. Onions were stored in any outbuilding or shed that would stay halfway warm until they could be packaged. 

  • 1950-1960 No potatoes were grown. 

  • 1960's Began growing potatoes again, and retail sales began.

  • Charlie Kittleson established store routes, delivering 5 and 10-pound bags. 

  • 1961 A large bulk onion warehouse was built. 

  • 1963 A bulk potato warehouse was built.

  • July 12, 1971 A tornado hit the farm. It destroyed the old onion grading warehouse and the new potato warehouse, as well as taking the roof off of the new onion bins.

  • 1971 After the tornado 2 potato bins were built before the fall harvest, in addition to new grading and packing rooms, which are all still in use today. The onion bin roof was also replaced.

    • Each onion bin can hold 15,000 bushels, for a total capacity of 45,000 bu of onions!

    • Each bin holds the equivalent of a 1 hr. supply of onions for the entire United States!

  • 2014 Steve Rachut joined the operation. 

  • 2016 Started growing Gold Potatoes

  • 2021 Adam Koch joined as an integral part of the operation

  • 2021 Added Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids area Hy-Vee's to delivery route

  • 2022 Steve and Beth Rachut purchased the business from John

  • 2023 Adam Koch started farming with Steve Rachut

  • 2024 A new addition and remodel was complete to the warehouse store. 

What Clients Say

"We got excellent service .We go back every year.They are very honest about their products!!🤗"  -  Sue
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