Red River Commodities named 2009 North Dakota Exporter of the Year

Red River Commodities, a Fargo-based food processing company, grew its export business by 18 percent last year and now exports products to 36 foreign countries.

Exports make up 41 percent of sales of processed foods for the company, whose products include SunButter, a peanut butter substitute made from sunflower seeds.

Gov. John Hoeven presented North Dakota’s 2009 Exporter of the Year Award to Red River Commodities Monday during a luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo.

“The future for North Dakota and all of agriculture is extremely bright,” said Bob Majkrzak, Red River Commodities president and CEO. “We’re going to keep finding ways to make exports a key component to the economy in this part of the world.”

Hoeven also presented the 2009 Service to Exporters Award, which is given to an organization that has demonstrated excellence in helping North Dakota businesses succeed in the global marketplace, to Midwest Motor Express, a shipping and logistics company based in Bismarck and Fargo.

“The changes and opportunities that are out there in just the last several years are phenomenal,” said Ron Martin, Midwest Motor Express vice president of international logistics. “We’re so happy and grateful to receive an award like this.”

Hoeven said the state’s economy has almost doubled in the last 10 years to more than $32 billion.

“You can see the impact and importance of trade and export in North Dakota’s economy,” Hoeven said. “Our growth in North Dakota is not just about a growing economy, but a more diversified economy.”

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