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How one food producer kept business going amid the pandemic

Jun 16, 2020
Grand Prairie Foods lost 80% of its hospitality and travel-related business in one day. To survive, it's focusing on packaged foods.
When the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, became one of the hot spots of the COVID-19 outbreak, Kurt Loudenback, the CEO of Grand Prairie Foods, asked many of his workers to stay home.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Food company dependent on immigrant labor is 'concerned' about political rhetoric

Mar 7, 2017
Kurt Loudenback of successful Grand Prairie Foods employs a mostly refugee and migrant workforce.
A part of Kurt Loudenback’s business that has grown substantially is sandwich building. He says that work can't be automated.
Photo courtesy of Kurt Loudenback

Washington brinkmanship aside, the real U.S. economy doesn't look too bad

Oct 9, 2013
In his travels for The Atlantic and Marketplace's American Futures project, Jim Fallows says the American economy in small cities and towns is doing all right.

PODCAST: The story of Sioux Falls and American Futures

Sep 13, 2013
The complete collection of our stop in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Lots of growth on the prairie

Sep 6, 2013
From credit cards to coffee shops, Sioux Falls, S.D., has a seemingly unending legacy of growth.

The grand ol' dame of Sioux Falls

Sep 6, 2013
Sylvia Henkin, 92, moved to Sioux Falls in 1944 and she and her husband helped build one of the city's major radio stations.
Sylvia Henkin, 92, moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. in 1994, and watched the town multiply 10 times in size. 
Ethan Lindsey/Marketplace

Farming that puts Google maps to shame

Sep 5, 2013
Technology that comes from a company in Sioux Falls is helping farmers do more with less in a high-tech way.

For public good, not for profit.

PODCAST: "American Futures" and the power of maps

Aug 26, 2013
A podcast to launch our new collaboration with the The Atlantic's Jim Fallows, featuring an exclusive interview with the most important CEO you've never heard of: Esri's Jack Dangermond.

Is Sioux Falls' 3.5% unemployment rate America's future?

Aug 16, 2013
Marketplace is partnering with The Atlantic, covering what the American economy looks like today, from smaller cities and towns across the country. First stop: Sioux Falls.