1882

Warehouse Beginning

Valley Corporation is located just outside the tiny town of Valley Junction, WI. Cranberries were first harvested on our farm in the early 1880s. One of the original founders was Art Funk, who later founded the Lacrosse Footwear Company. Our iconic warehouse was conveniently situated along the railroad which is now State Hwy 173.

1939

The 1st Generation

At the age of 28, Edward W. Grygleski came to Valley Junction with his wife Frances. In 1939, he accepted a job and then moved from Phillips, WI to manage the farm. In the 1950’s he became the owner. Having been shot through the femur in a hunting accident as a teenager, Ed W. walked with a leg 2” shorter than the other. He never let that slow down his work or passion for a life on the farm. His wife, Frances, also worked for many years as a packer of fresh fruit during the harvest season.

1954

Joining Ocean Spray

Edward W. and Frances had two sons together, Edward J., and Daniel, who worked alongside their father on the farm. In 1954, they stopped selling fruit to Eatmor Cranberry and joined the Ocean Spray Cooperative and gradualy transitioned from selling fresh fruit to selling processed fruit.

1963

2nd Generation Begins

Edward J. and Daniel became the second generation of growers. Over the years they grew the farm and Edward J. eventually became the full owner of the farm with his wife Barbara and their 5 children. The kids helped work on the farm during the summer months.

1974

Hybrid Breeding

Much of the production in the earlier years was for the fresh fruit market. Ed J. had a passion for agriculture and a green thumb for gardening. He wanted to create new vines with higher production, better fresh fruit keeping quality and early and uniform color. In 1974, Ed J. Grygleski started breeding native varieties in search of a better fresh fruit berry. Since the cross-breeding started, he has developed thousands of new varieties with ever improving traits. Over the years, we have evaluated those seedlings and we have expanded over 20 proprietary varieties through many generations of crossbreeding. It takes 12-15 years to grow, evaluate, and expand a tiny seed into a full size cranberry bed.

Since 1974, hundreds of new varieties are currently being expanded or evaluated. Our family owned farm continues to strive to breed unique and highly productive cranberry varieties.

1992

3rd Generation Begins

In 1992, Edward and Barbara’s son Ed A. returned to the farm after graduating from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Chemistry and working for a year in Madison. Ed and his wife Ann raised three children on the farm. The cranberry breeding was ramped back up in 1992 with new seedling crossing done every year after. Over the next 20 years, Valley Corporation grew from 100 acres to 300 acres, with 95% of the farm planted into new proprietary hybrids.

1999

3rd Generation Expanded

After graduating from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Elementary Education, Mary pursued her career in teaching. Bill, also having graduated from UWSP, spent several years working for the US Geological Survey and the WI Dept. of Natural Resources. In 1999, after marriage, Mary and Bill began their lives together by returning to the cranberry marsh to help run the family farm. They have four children together, John, Greg, Nora, and Peter.

2021

4th Generation Begins

In 2021, Ed and Ann’s oldest son Nathan, his wife Megan, and their daughter Rosalie became the 4th generation growers in the family. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and working for a short time doing pipeline engineering, he decided to settle down on the farm. They will continue to help carry on the legacy.