MDARD Recognizes Cooperative Elevator Company as Michigan’s 2025 Agriculture Exporter of the Year

LANSING, Mich. - Director Tim Boring of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) presented the 2025 Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award to Cooperative Elevator Company today at a ceremony in the village of Pigeon.

"Cooperative Elevator Co. is Michigan's Agriculture Exporter of the Year thanks to their team's hard work and longstanding commitment to increasing international sales of grain and dry beans," said Director Boring. "MDARD is proud to work with businesses like Cooperative Elevator Co. that export Michigan-grown products to the world, create good-paying jobs for Michiganders and strengthen rural communities throughout our state. We will continue to do everything we can to help Michigan businesses succeed in global markets."

Founded in 1915, Cooperative Elevator Co. is a full service, farmer-owned cooperative located in Pigeon, Michigan. The company works with more than 1,100 grower-owners and processes navy, small red, black and pinto beans among other products including organic grains such as food grade soybeans and white wheat. Most of their exports are to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, but other markets include Canada, South America and Japan.

Cooperative Elevator Co. began exporting Michigan-grown products to foreign markets in the 1960s with navy bean exports to Europe. These exports support 22 jobs and generate a significant portion of the company's sales. In total, Cooperative Elevator Co. employs over 200 people across numerous locations in Michigan's Thumb, as well as in Washington, North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada through their subsidiaries and joint ventures of CEC Seeds, Alliance Valley Bean and Western Harvest Bean.

"It is a great honor to be named the 2025 Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year," said Cooperative Elevator Co. CEO Scott Gordon. "Through the hard work of our dedicated employees and farmer patrons, Cooperative Elevator has positioned itself as a leading supplier of high-quality Michigan grown beans and grain to consumers across the globe. Our exports of well over $50 million in the last year help return additional value to our patrons through broad market access, and in turn support the economic success of the local communities that we call home."

Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. The Great Lakes State is the nation's top producer of black beans, small red beans and five other agricultural commodities. Food and agriculture businesses contribute nearly $126 billion to Michigan's economy annually, and in 2024 the state set a new agriculture export sales record of $2.9 billion.

MDARD presents the Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award annually to a company recognized for high quality, Michigan-grown products and a strong commitment to exporting. To be eligible for the award, more than 50 percent of a company's product must be grown, processed, or manufactured in Michigan, and exports must contribute significantly to the company's overall growth.

The Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award winner is selected based on factors including export growth, innovation, and the pursuit of new export markets. The review committee consists of members representing the Van Andel Global Trade Center, Michigan State University's International Business Center, Comerica Bank, the U.S. Commercial Service's International Trade Administration, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation International Trade Team.

For more information on past winners and MDARD's International Marketing Program, visit Michigan.gov/AgExport.

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