CHS, Inc. has its roots in the 1929 organization of the regional cooperative, North Pacific Grain Growers, Inc (NPGG). The Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (GTA) was founded in 1938. These two cooperatives eventually merged in 1983 to form the Harvest States Cooperatives.
In 1931 Farmers Union Central Exchange was founded in Minnesota. This cooperative later became Cenex, which became a seed, plant, and food business. They later expanded into transportation, convenience stores, and gas stations.
In 1998 Cenex and Harvard States merged to form the Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives, an integrated agricultural food systems company that linked producers to consumers.
In 2000 CHS Cooperatives was adopted as the new name of the company, and then CHS, Inc. in 2003. Cenex is the company’s energy brand.
Today CHS, Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by U.S. agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and thousands of preferred stockholders. They own and operate food processing and wholesale, farm supply, Cenex brand fuel, financial services, and retail businesses. They are also co-owner of Ventura Foods, a processor of vegetable oil. Their revenue for 2012 was $40.6 billion.
