Dan Totushek had his beginnings on a truck farm in what was once rural, Eden Prairie. Dan and his father (Dan Sr.) raised vegetables and sold them at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market. Every spring they would buy seedlings that would be transplanted into the fields.

Eventually they decided it would be more cost effective to start their own greenhouse. It worked out so well that they added more greenhouses the following year. Dan and his father felt that they might as well grow a few bedding plants along with the vegetables.

It was about that time when Jerry Quaal moved to Eden Prairie. Dan and Jerry, both in their early teens, became fast friends. Jerry began working with Dan and his father raising vegetables and bedding plants. By the time the boys were sixteen they had formed a three-way partnership.

Shortly after graduation Dan enlisted in the Air Force. Those circumstances left Dan Sr. and Jerry to carry on. After four years in the Air Force Dan was unsure about his returning to farming and began working for Rosemount, Inc. Meanwhile, Dan Sr. and Jerry were becoming more deeply involved in the bedding plant industry.

A few years later, Dan Sr. decided to retire. At the same time Dan had decided to return, and they performed the partnership as it is known today.

In 1979, because of Eden Prairie's ever growing taxes, Dan and Jerry moved the business to Buffalo, MN and began with approximately 60,000 square feet of greenhouse space. In 1981 they began a range in Monticello, MN to raise hot house tomatoes. It wasn't long before this space was needed for bedding plants instead. In 1985, Dan and Jerry decided to focus primarily on bedding plants and drop most of the fieldwork. Since that time they have added another range in Buffalo, MN, then another in Monticello and recently in Madison, South Dakota.