Our Farm
Heldt Produce Milestones
July 1981
Family Farm – Open Heldt Produce founded in 1981 by Greg Heldt. Started as a seven acre cucumber farm.
June 1993
Higher Quality Addition of the use of plastic and drip tape, making the harvest earlier, better yield, and higher quality products.
September 1983
Our Products The Production of winter squash, cantaloupe, and watermelon were added over the years 1982-1984.
January 2011
In 2011 we made the decision to focus largely on watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumbers.
Our History
Heldt Produce was founded in 1981 by Greg Heldt. The now mostly watermelon operation was started out with seven acres of cucumbers. In the next few years, the production of winter squash, cantaloupe, and watermelon were added along with the cucumbers. In 1985 Greg decided to attempt an early crop in Blue Rapids, Kansas. Over the next seven years of hard luck and disappointment, the decision was made to give up the early crop in Kansas.
When coming back to farm only in Nebraska, sweet corn was added to the mix. New technologies were being implemented at Heldt Produce. The use of plastic and drip tape became an important part in the growing of the produce. This allowed us to have an earlier harvest, better yields, and higher quality products. We also added greenhouses to allow us to grow our own transplants for an even earlier crop.
In 2011 we made the decision to focus largely on watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumbers. The amount of hard work, dedication, and pure determination that has been put into this business from the beginning is to be credited for the success it now has. Factors such as hail, flooding, drought and other unforeseen disasters make it easy to quit, and harder to keep trying again. Perseverance is the word that sums up the history of Heldt Produce and shows the character behind our business as well.