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Bayside Best Beans recognized as ag exporter

Bayside Best Beans has been named the 2016 Michigan Ag Exporter of the Year.

General Manager Brad Witek tells Brownfield the company has expanded tremendously since its start with seven farmers more than 20 years ago.  “We started with about 40,000 bags the first year and we’re now approaching close to 700,000 hundredweight.”

Witek says Mexico and Italy are their largest export markets. The company increased total exports by 15 percent from 2014 to 2015, one of the factors that lead to the recognition.  “We’re running out of warehouse room, we’re having an issue with having room to store our product before shipment, so we may have to look at a bigger warehouse at that time, at least in segments.”  He says, “We’ll probably put in a third processing line also, and more employees.”

The Sebewaing company, located in Michigan’s Thumb, stores and ships black, pinto, navy, and small red beans.

AUDIO: Interview with Brad Witek