Columbia Grain Intl. – Supporting Farmers & Communities During Challenging Times
Special to Times-Record Columbia Grain International (CGI), a global leader in the origination, processing, logistics, and distribution of highquality bulk grains, pulses, edible beans, oilseeds, and organics for the Pacific Northwest is “Cultivating Growth” by caring for their local communities this holiday season.
This December, CGI is giving back to local charities to support their employees and farmers in agricultural communities. CGI has donated to 30 charities within the 46 cities they operate within, spanning Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, and North Dakota, including Toys for Tots, Meals on Wheels, local food banks, schools, senior centers, children’s homes, community centers, and churches.
Valley City’s CGI facility in Valley City donated to the Barnes County Food Pantry, a vital resource to local individuals and families who are in need, especially now.
“Columbia Grain International cultivates growth across its broad footprint, which spans the northwestern tier of the U.S.. However, we’ve chosen to focus our philanthropy at the local level. One of our corporate core values is caring; caring for the farmers we do business with, the consumers who purchase our products, and the local communities where we cultivate growth. This season, Columbia Grain International is supporting its local charities with monetary donations, coats, and toys for children across our entire reach and we are donating small-pack lentils to food banks. We value our dedicated partner producers in the communities we do business with and believe it’s important to give back and help these small communities grow into the future,” says President and CEO of Columbia Grain International, Jeff Van Pevenage.
“Our businesses are generally located in small, rural communities in which helping our neighbors is a top priority. We are thrilled to be a part of a company whose values align with our community’s own ideals. Members of Columbia Grain International’s Charity Committee were eager to identify and administer philanthropic work with their local nonprofit organizations. We are working with senior centers, schools, food banks, and supply drives all over our company’s network. It feels great to give to our neighbors, and we hope our work cultivates growth in our communities,” says Committee Chairman and Merchandiser of Columbia Grain International, Lane Hannas.
About Columbia Grain International
Since 1978, Columbia Grain International™ (CGI) has been Cultivating Growth™ as a global leader in the origination, processing, logistics, and distribution of high-quality bulk grains, pulses, edible beans, oilseeds and organics for U.S. domestic and worldwide export markets. Headquartered in Portland, OR, CGI’s reliable supply chain spans the western region of the US, ensuring abundant ingredients for all of its partners, thanks to their trusted relationships with their farmers throughout the fertile croplands of Washington, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, well known for its high-quality wheat, feed grains, canola and pulses. Today, they are vertically integrated, operating assets including grain elevators, processing plants and agronomy centers to support their farmers, which stretch the northern tier of the United States. With multiple touchpoints across the food supply chain, CGI provides trusted solutions and cultivates high-quality ingredients from their local farmers for a farm to table philosophy that nourishes the world, safely.