The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative is a farmer-owned producer of beet sugar (100% shareholder/grower owned). Founded in 1972, the cooperative has over 500 shareholders that produce approximately three million tons of sugarbeets 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.