The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative is a farmer-owned producer of beet sugar (100% shareholder/grower owned). Founded in 1974, the cooperative has over 500 shareholders that produce approximately three million tons of sugar beets every year. Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative produces all-natural granulated sugar and liquid sugar from sugar beets. Customers purchase refined sugar in bulk, as well as in 50-pound bags and super-sacks weighing up to 2,000 pounds, and liquid sugar in bulk. The cooperative has attained Safe Quality Food (SQF) Level 2 Certification. The cooperative employs approximately 360 people, of which 300 are full-time benefit rated, with an additional 400 seasonal employees during the harvest season. Employee skill sets include electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, technical and process. Subsidiaries include Spreckels Sugar Company Inc, and Holly Seed LLC