North Dakota Farmer Adds Value through Vertical Integration

Sep 16, 2019 at 09:47 AM CST
In the last few years, Chris Adams has touched down in 11 countries. Business cards and brochures in hand, this young and business-savvy farmer-turned-globetrotter has one goal: build personal relationships with buyers for his North Dakota specialty crops. “When I sit across the table from a customer in Dubai or Colombia or Peru, I can say, ‘I planted these beans, I cared for them and I cleaned them,’” he says. “They all want traceability, and you can’t get much better traceability than straight from the farmer.” Through vertical integration, diversification and a non-conventional approach, Adams is transforming his family’s row-crop operation. For these reasons, Adams and his team earned recognition as a finalist for the 2019 Top Producer of the Year Award.

Sep 16, 2019 at 09:47 AM CST

In the last few years, Chris Adams has touched down in 11 countries. Business cards and brochures in hand, this young and business-savvy farmer-turned-globetrotter has one goal: build personal relationships with buyers for his North Dakota specialty crops. “When I sit across the table from a customer in Dubai or Colombia or Peru, I can say, ‘I planted these beans, I cared for them and I cleaned them,’” he says. “They all want traceability, and you can’t get much better traceability than straight from the farmer.” Through vertical integration, diversification and a non-conventional approach, Adams is transforming his family’s row-crop operation. For these reasons, Adams and his team earned recognition as a finalist for the 2019 Top Producer of the Year Award.