From staff reports

While the Albert Lea City Council dealt with the sad aftermath of one burned processing plant Monday, another one a few miles away was celebrating its reopening.

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

While the Albert Lea City Council dealt with the sad aftermath of one burned processing plant Monday, another one a few miles away was celebrating its reopening. The Hollandale Marketing Association is back up to full strength more than two months after fire destroyed a potato warehouse adjacent to the plant.

As potatoes began rolling on conveyor belts Monday, the HMA served notice that while the fire was certainly a setback, it will not be a fatal blow. The cooperative retained all 25 of its employees, and kept them working – fewer hours, granted – at a Maple Island location where some work could be done while the Hollandale site was brought back into working shape.

It’s fortunate for the city of Hollandale and the farms in the cooperative that this operation will continue.