Cooperatives GROWMARK Inc. and Southern States said they plan to close on a transaction Sept. 1, 2020, that aligns the organizations operationally to increase innovation, growth, and returns for the farmer-owners of both systems.
In a press release, GROWMARK said it will assume the wholesale agronomy and energy (fuels and propane) assets of Southern States, along with several retail locations serving farmers in Delaware and Maryland. GROWMARK will provide crop inputs, fuels, propane, and a variety of customer support and marketing services to Southern States and its member cooperatives. They, in turn, will continue to deliver custom solutions with access to GROWMARK’s product mix, distribution expertise, and drive for innovation.
Southern States is a Richmond, Virginia-based cooperative currently serving retail and wholesale outlets across 21 states — it is one of the largest farm supply retail and service cooperatives in the United States. The cooperative, which has entered into another partnership recently with Heliae Ag for microbial nutrients, has long provided a range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed, pet food, animal health supplies, petroleum products, and various other items for the farm and home.
“GROWMARK’s vision is to be the best agricultural cooperative system in North America, and this partnership enables our organizations to further that goal together,” said GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin. “We are committed to delivering an unsurpassed customer experience to the patrons we serve across North America. The cooperative model is uniquely positioned to deliver that, so this combination of efforts is great news for farmers invested in our cooperative organizations.”
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative that provides agronomy, energy products and services, as well as grain marketing and a variety of support services throughout North America. It is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois.
