ABOUT THE OWNERS

My name is Jesse Grothe I'm the owner and operator of Frisk Fra Boksen Farms, where we grow fresh, sustainable vegetables using hydroponic methods that honor both the land and our community.

My journey into hydroponics began in 2023 at a hydroponic start up called Clayton Farms, this stop over set me on a path into hydroponics where I would eventually have the privilege of meeting Chris and Barb, the farm's previous owners. What started as a professional connection quickly grew into a meaningful friendship with Chris, built around our shared love of philosophy and a mutual commitment to using controlled environment agriculture as a force for good in the world.

Before discovering hydroponics, I spent a decade in the landscape and horticulture industry, designing and developing sustainable solutions for my family's landscape company. Those years taught me to see plants not just as crops or ornamentation, but as partners in creating healthier environments. My path wasn't always smooth—my first agricultural venture was a conventional urban tomato farm that delivered more epic failures than successes, but those hard-earned lessons became some of the foundation for what I do today.

Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs and business owners, stepping into farm ownership feels like both honoring my roots and blazing a new trail. It's incredibly meaningful to model the values and work ethic my family instilled in me for my two daughters, Violet and Emerie. They're watching me turn a dream into reality, and I hope they're learning that sustainable business isn't just about profit—it's about purpose.

None of this would be possible without my wife Hayleigh, who somehow manages to pursue her own mission of expanding healthcare access while serving as my unofficial business strategist and marketing genius. Her support and insights keep me grounded and always thinking bigger about what we can accomplish.

At Frisk Fra Boksen Farms, we're not just growing vegetables—we're cultivating a more sustainable, equitable food system, one harvest at a time.

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Barb and Chris started Frisk Fra Boksen because they want to create a low impact sustainable way of producing fresh vegetables for local consumption.

Barb’s career has been in health care as a surgical RN. Chris has been in financial services.

We have been asked why we wanted to start this kind of business when we could just as easily head in to retirement. Barb will say that this is Chris’ idea because of his undergrad degree in Alternative Energies. Chris will say . . . well, not much (he is an introvert).

However, ask Chris about the article he read about urban container farming, the low energy use, the highly efficient water use, and the ability to deliver fresh (literally picked the same day) vegetables year-round, and you will find he has a lot to say. Be careful as he may not stop talking.

Barb is passionate about eating good food, grown and prepared locally. She loves to talk (and eat!) food with those who grow it and the creative chefs who prepare it. She is excited to be part of the incredible group of Minnesota farmers supplying local restaurants with fresh produce, especially food harvested today from a clean controlled environment.