MINOT, N.D. — AGT Food Inc. is moving the needle on what can be done with pulse crops.
The company — with North Dakota processing facilities in Minot and Williston and U.S.
Pulse possibilities seem endless, said Eric Bartsch of AGT’s Bismarck-based division head for global food ingredients. AGT acquires almost all of its grains directly from farmers through new-crop contracts and spot purchases.
AGT’s main crop is yellow peas, but they also buy green peas, red lentils, green lentils, chickpeas and faba beans. They’ll contract this winter for fall production. The pulse crops come primarily from North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota.
The AGT plant has grown to a capacity of up to 140,000 tons of pulse crops every year, which it makes into ingredients, and it operates at near-capacity every year and at times exports a significant amount. To compare, the entire domestic market is 300,000 tons per year market for all pulses, including ingredients. Ten years ago, the entire U.S. market for pulse crops was 20,000 to 40,000 tons per year. To read the full article click the following link: AGweek AGT Article