Jan. 4, 2019

The growing aquaculture business tru Shrimp is building its first production facility in Madison.

Tru Shrimp is based in Minnesota and is a brand of Ralco, a third-generation family business.

It promotes that it raises “the safest, cleanest, most natural shrimp possible through a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach.”

The first production facility was going to be built on 67 acres in Luverne, Minn., but because of Minnesota regulatory issues it was moved to South Dakota, the company said in a statement.

The Madison facility, or harbor, will raise shrimp in a near-natural and disease-free environment, the company said.

Construction is expected to start this summer in Madison’s Lakeview Industrial Park, with the exact timeline pending the completion of permitting and financing.

“We are excited to be working with the city of Madison and the Lake Area Improvement Corp. in bringing safe and sustainable shrimp to the U.S. consumer,” Michael Ziebell, tru Shrimp’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Though we’re headquartered in Minnesota, tru Shrimp is truly a Midwest company. Building our first harbor in Madison reaffirms our commitment to the broader region.”

Tru Shrimp’s innovative technology changes the way shrimp are raised, free of chemicals and antibiotics. The company calls its facilities “harbors” to reflect these new processes and said the approach will revolutionize the way seafood companies meet the demands of their customers. Tru Shrimp’s processes enable shrimp to grow in shallow water that is cleaned and reused.

“South Dakota is pleased to welcome its newest corporate citizen, tru Shrimp, to Madison,” Gov. Dennis Daugaard said. “The growing aquaculture industry, led by tru Shrimp, is not only a great fit for Madison, but also a natural fit for our state’s agricultural heritage.”

The decision not to locate in Luverne reflected holdups related to timing, Ziebell added.

“Our timeline for capital financing and construction in 2019 does not allow adequate time to resolve the items in Luverne. Locating the first harbor in Madison not only meets the critical components of our business model but our timeline as well.”