Sandi Aarestad Receives NPPGA's Meritorious Service Award

Sandi Aarestad who operates Valley Tissue Culture near Halstad, Minnesota received the Meritorious Service Award from the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association at their awards banquet last Tuesday.

Retired Potato Agronomist Duane (Sarge) Preston who helped Sandi and her husband Randy start their business more than 30 years ago presented the award.

Eventually, Randy would begin another career and Sandi continue on to build the business to what it is today.

It started with a half dozen test tubes in a kitchen and now has become 13 greenhouses with 150 potato varieties in production. Today, Valley Tissue Culture is even using robotics to ensure operations are performed in a sterile environment.

The Aarestad's have four children; Charles, Christina, Danielle and Alexandra (Alex). Alex is involved full-time with the business.

Valley Tissue Culture is one of the most respected and trusted operations of its type in the world.