By Andi Anderson
The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development has awarded a $150,000 grant to Quality Roasting, LLC for a new soybean refinery in Reese, Michigan. The refinery will increase Quality Roasting's capacity by 30% and allow them to refine 100% of their crude soybean oil into food-grade vegetable oil. The project will create five new jobs and increase the demand for local soybeans by 30%.
Quality Roasting processes soybeans to produce soybean oil and Exceller Meal®, a feed ingredient in livestock rations. In 2019, they expanded their business to Reese, MI where they were able to find the perfect location that included a high dairy concentration and locally grown soybeans. With this grant funding, Quality Roasting will be creating five new jobs and increasing their production and need for GMO and organic crude soybean oils.
The new refinery will be designed to produce 9.5 million gallons of food grade vegetable oil per year, requiring roughly six million bushels of local soybeans. The increased demand for soybeans will increase the basis for local producers, adding value to their existing operations.
The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development is focused on developing policy and projects which further Michigan’s growing food and agricultural sector. Projects like Quality Roasting showcase how Michigan’s food and agriculture businesses can expand – resulting in increased capacity and more employment opportunities within rural areas.
The new refinery is a positive development for both Quality Roasting and the Michigan agricultural sector. It will allow Quality Roasting to grow its business and create jobs, while also providing local soybean producers with a new market for their product.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Michigan, Business, Crops, Soybeans, Fruits and Vegetables