Founded in 1921, Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn) is the oldest and one of the largest cotton marketing cooperatives in the United States. We provide a range of services to our members, including: domestic and export marketing; cotton warehousing; and agricultural financing, which is available through Stapldiscount, the lending arm of Staplcotn.
Staplcotn is a 100% producer-owned company. We presently handle a total of nearly 14,000 farm accounts in 11 states – Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Total membership in the Association, consisting exclusively of growers and share rent landlords, is 5,548 members who are located in 46 states. This membership includes marketing, warehouse and Stapldiscount patrons.
Cotton producers, who have opted to market their cotton through Staplcotn, have essentially joined together to globally sell their crops as one company. They do not “sell” their cotton to the Association; they simply sign an agreement passing title for any cotton he or she produces on a particular farm directly to Staplcotn. The cotton is then marketed in Staplcotn’s name by the company’s professional marketing staff under the guidelines set by the Board of Directors. (See Mill Sales Program for more details.) The proceeds from Staplcotn’s marketing efforts are distributed to the membership based upon the quantity and quality delivered.
Staplcotn’s inventory averages between 2–3 million bales of U.S.-grown, Memphis/Eastern upland cotton annually. Our producers’ crops consistently meet the expectations of textile mills around the world. Not only do our members produce quality cotton, but Staplcotn delivers every bale with the highest service and integrity. With more than 90 years of experience in the industry, Staplcotn has gained and maintained the highly regarded reputation of the cotton company that can be trusted to perform for our membership as well as our textile customers.
