The Superior Express -

Free Day Popcorn, a Byron business, is owned and operated by Nate and Stacey Freitag. They are assisted in the operation by their four daughters: Makenna, Jordan, Riley and Brooke.

The Freitags met while attending college in Pennsylvania. They resided there for several years. They researched popcorn and felt they could make their mark in a niche market.

The family wanted to control the complete process, from planting to shipping the finished product.

The business was awarded a $250,000 United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Business Program Value-Added Producer Grant. The grants was to assist with packaging and marketing costs.

The Freitags' business success has led them to the construction of a new building located in the Village of Byron. The couple cited the difficulties semi-trucks had in accessing their farm where they sorted and packaged their popcorn. Inclement weather would make the county roads impassable for the large vehicles picking up their bulk popcorn orders.

The couple came to the realization they needed to physically expand their operation.

They are having a new 60' by 120' building erected in Byron. The location is on a paved road. It will allow the couple to package their product at dedicated stations. The building will include an office for Stacey to utilize for business purposes.

Free Day Popcorn has a strong presence on the internet. Their product is also sold at several local stores including Superior's Ideal Market

Free Day is proud of their product. Several reviewers have pointed out not only the freshness but also the lack of "old maids," those unpopped kernels which remain after corn is popped.