Former Valley of the Green Giant, Minnesota

The town of Le Sueur was known as the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant, as was asserted on a sign on the edge of town for many years. This was the town where the Minnesota Valley Canning Company developed its “Green Giant Big Tender Peas” brand. In 1950, the company changed its name to the Green Giant Company, and a successful marketing and advertising campaign, including the friendly  Green Giant mascot saying “ho ho ho” on national TV ads, made the product known and distributed nationally. The Green Giant lab and cannery operated here until the company was bought by Pillsbury, and operations eventually were moved away. There is a historic park where part of the old billboard is preserved, on the grounds of the local museum, across from a large food ingredient plant, and at the intersection of Dakota and Commerce Streets, where there is historic marker.