What Staple Cotton Cooperative Association does

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) is a privately held cotton marketing cooperative founded in 1921 in the Mississippi Delta and headquartered in Greenwood, Mississippi. It is 100% grower-owned by nearly 3,000 family farms across 11 states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia), with broader membership exceeding 5,000 including share rent landlords and warehousing and Stapldiscount patrons. The cooperative markets 2-3 million bales of U.S. Memphis/Eastern upland cotton annually, connecting growers directly with textile mills, brands, and retailers worldwide through its Mill Sales Program and direct export sales.

Staplcotn's core offerings span cotton marketing, warehousing, agricultural financing, and sustainability programming. Its Permanent Bale Identification (PBI) System provides 100% bale traceability back to U.S. origin, an increasingly critical capability for brands seeking supply chain transparency. The Warehouse Division operates 14 facilities with approximately one million bale licensed capacity across the Mid-South and Southeast, including port-adjacent locations in Savannah, GA and coastal North Carolina; the Rising Sun, MS facility is the largest single-location cotton warehouse in the Mid-South. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Staple Cotton Discount Corporation (Stapldiscount, founded 1923), provides agricultural financing for crops, equipment, land, gins, warehouses, and flying services in the Mid-South. Staplcotn also participates in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (as a leading aggregator and Field Partner Program), Better Cotton, Regenagri, and operates a proprietary Regenerative Practices Pool (RPP).

The cooperative operates on a patronage basis: growers pass title of cotton to Staplcotn, which markets it professionally and distributes proceeds to members based on quality and quantity. Warehousing tariffs and Stapldiscount financing income represent additional revenue streams. Staplcotn is one of four owner-members of AMCOT, through which the major U.S. cotton marketing cooperatives together supply approximately half of the U.S. cotton crop to textile mills globally. The board of directors is composed entirely of grower-members, and leadership is currently held by President & CEO Hank Reichle (since 2018) and Board Chairman Thomas A. "Tap" Parker (since 2023).

Name

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association

Legal name

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association

Website

https://staplcotn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) is America's oldest and largest cotton marketing cooperative, 100% grower-owned by nearly 3,000 family farms across 11 states, marketing 2-3 million bales annually of traceable U.S. upland cotton to global textile mills, brands, and retailers through pooling, warehousing, and financing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cotton Marketing and Agricultural Cooperative Services

NAICS

Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114)

SIC

Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Cooperative Markets (Local Producer Co-ops) (CRAHALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiber Crop Contract & Identity-Preserved Farming (Traceable/Certified Programs) (AFAGAFAG), Sustainability/Ethical Sourcing Claim Verification (RSPO, Rainforest, Fairtrade) (AFALAGAJ)

Keywords

• Cotton marketing cooperative
• Cotton warehousing services
• Agricultural financing
• Cotton traceability
• Sustainable cotton sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cotton Marketing Services: Staplcotn markets cotton on behalf of grower-members, connecting them directly with the global marketplace. Growers sign an agreement passing title of cotton to Staplcotn, which then markets it professionally. Proceeds are distributed to members based on quality and quantity produced on a patronage basis.
2. Warehousing Services: Staplcotn operates 14 warehouse facilities with approximately one million bale capacity. Warehouses charge competitive tariffs for handling and storage. Earnings are returned to warehouse patrons at end of fiscal year.
3. Agricultural Financing (Stapldiscount): Staple Cotton Discount Corporation (Stapldiscount) provides credit requirements for Mid-South agriculture, financing crops such as cotton, corn, soybeans, rice, and catfish, as well as farm equipment, land purchases, cotton gins, warehouses, and flying services. Founded in 1923.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) is a 100% grower-owned cooperative that markets cotton on behalf of nearly 3,000 family farms, pooling 2–3 million bales annually and selling directly to textile mills, brands, and retailers through its Mill Sales Program and export channels. It also operates 14 cotton warehouses (~1 million bale capacity), offers agricultural financing through its Stapldiscount subsidiary, and delivers sustainability- and regenerative-certified cotton pools (Trust Protocol, Better Cotton, Regenagri, and the proprietary RPP) with full bale traceability via the Permanent Bale Identification system.

Product overview

Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) is America’s oldest and largest cotton marketing cooperative, offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around its core cotton marketing operations. The company operates primarily through its flagship Staplcotn Cotton Marketing division and Mill Sales Program, which connect nearly 3,000 family farms across 11 states with global textile mills and brands. Supporting the core marketing function are Warehousing Services (14 facilities with ~1 million bale capacity), the Stapldiscount agricultural financing subsidiary, and Cotton Services field staff. The company also offers sustainability-focused programs including the Regenerative Practices Pool, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol integration, and Better Cotton program participation. Staplcotn’s production averages 2-3 million bales annually of U.S. Memphis/Eastern upland cotton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Staplcotn Cotton Marketing Comprehensive cotton marketing services connecting U.S. cotton growers with global textile mills, brands, and retailers. Includes pricing and risk management, inventory management, selling, shipping, and payment processing for grower-member cotton.
• Mill Sales Program Pooling-based marketing program that enables textile mills to purchase larger quantities and specific qualities directly from producers throughout the year, eliminating middlemen by connecting cotton producers and mills directly.
• Warehousing Services Cotton warehousing services provided through 14 warehouse facilities across the Mid-South and Southeast with approximately one million bale licensed capacity, including port-adjacent locations for export logistics.
• Stapldiscount Agricultural Financing Agricultural financing subsidiary providing credit for Mid-South agriculture, including loans for cotton, corn, soybeans, rice, and catfish crops, as well as farm equipment, land purchases, cotton gins, warehouses, and flying services.
• Staplcotn Regenerative Practices Pool (RPP) Voluntary pool of Staplcotn growers using regenerative soil health practices including cover crops, minimal/no-tillage, nutrient management, and crop rotation while achieving biodiversity and soil carbon outcomes. Delivered as a Field Partner Program of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.
• U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Integration Voluntary sustainability program participation providing quantifiable goals and measurements for responsible cotton production with independent third-party verification across land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. Staplcotn is a leading aggregator since 2020.
• Better Cotton Program Participation Participation in the global Better Cotton sustainability program, with Staplcotn welcoming sourcing programs based on Better Cotton mass balance or verified volume since launching its U.S.-based program in 2014.
• Regenagri Certified Cotton Sourcing Regenagri is a leading international regenerative agriculture program; Staplcotn counts Regenagri certified cotton as part of its sustainable and regenerative branded cotton offerings for global buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-3 million bales marketed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Cotton Trust ProtocolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaplcotn has been a leading aggregator for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol since its launch in 2020. A significant portion of annual cotton production is Trust Protocol verified. Staplcotn serves as a Field Partner Program delivering traceable 'Trust Protocol Regenerative Cotton' to the market.
• Better CottoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaplcotn joined Better Cotton soon after launching its U.S.-based program in 2014 and has been essential to Better Cotton's U.S. presence. Staplcotn welcomes sourcing programs based on Better Cotton mass balance or verified volume.
• RegenagricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegenagri is a leading international regenerative agriculture program. Staplcotn counts Regenagri certified cotton as part of its sustainable and regenerative branded cotton offerings.
• AMCOTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association representing America's four major U.S. cotton marketing cooperatives. Staplcotn is one of four owner-members. Together the cooperatives supply approximately half of the U.S. cotton crop to textile mills worldwide.
• National Cotton Council (NCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral forum for consensus-building among U.S. cotton industry segments including producers, ginners, warehousers, merchants, and textile manufacturers. Staplcotn staff serve in leadership positions.
• Cotton Council International (CCI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerExport promotion arm of NCC. Mission to increase exports of U.S. cotton, cottonseed and manufactured cotton products. Staplcotn staff serve as directors.
• Cotton IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and marketing company representing upland cotton, funded by U.S. growers and importers. Staplcotn participates in research and promotion activities.
• The Cotton BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversight arm of Cotton Research & Promotion Program representing U.S. Upland cotton. Staplcotn is certified by USDA as a Certified Cotton Producer Organization to represent members across 11 states.
• International Cotton Association (ICA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's leading international cotton trade association and arbitral body. The majority of world cotton is traded under ICA bylaws and rules.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Louis Dreyfus Company: Louis Dreyfus is a global merchant and processor of agricultural commodities including cotton, serving textile mills and brands worldwide. It is part of the same global cotton trade ecosystem as Staplcotn but operates as a diversified multinational rather than a producer cooperative.
• ECOM Cotton: ECOM is a major global cotton merchandiser sourcing cotton from multiple origins for textile mills. It overlaps with Staplcotn's buyer base in textile mills globally and competes for export channels but operates as a private merchant rather than a cooperative.
• Olam Agri (formerly Olam International): Olam Agri operates a global cotton origination and merchandising business supplying spinning mills across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It is a comparable global cotton merchant serving the same end customers as Staplcotn but with broader commodity diversification.
• Allenberg Cotton: Allenberg Cotton is a U.S.-domiciled cotton merchant (now part of Louis Dreyfus Company) that originates and trades U.S. cotton for export. It competes directly with Staplcotn for U.S. cotton volumes and the same mill and brand buyer relationships.
• Cargill Cotton: Cargill's cotton platform is a global cotton merchant operating at significantly larger scale than Staplcotn, sourcing, trading, and distributing cotton worldwide. It competes for the same textile mill and brand customers but with broader geographic sourcing and corporate (non-cooperative) capital flexibility.

Others

• The Seam: The Seam is an internet-based cotton trading platform and electronic warehouse receipt system co-founded by Staplcotn in 1995. It is an enabling technology peer rather than a direct competitor, providing digital trading infrastructure across the U.S. cotton industry.

Direct peers

• Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative Association: A regional cotton marketing cooperative serving southeastern U.S. growers across the Carolinas, overlapping geographically with Staplcotn's 11-state footprint. It pools member cotton and markets to domestic and international mills using a similar cooperative structure.
• Calcot: Calcot is a California-based cotton marketing cooperative serving growers in the Southwest, and one of the four major U.S. cotton marketing cooperatives (AMCOT). It operates a comparable pool-and-market model and serves the same global textile mill customer base as Staplcotn.
• Plains Cotton Cooperative Association: PCCA is a Texas-based cotton marketing cooperative and one of the four AMCOT owner-members alongside Staplcotn. It pools, markets, and warehouses cotton for its grower-owners with comparable member-driven structure, making it the closest direct peer to Staplcotn.

Emerging players

• Baco Trading: Baco is a cotton merchandising firm focused on U.S. cotton exports with significant overlap in mill-customer relationships. It is a smaller, more focused merchant compared to Staplcotn but operates in the same export cotton space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Staplcotn1
• Facebookfacebook.com/staplcotn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staplcotn-cooperative-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/staplcotn1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Staple Cotton Cooperative Association