| GERING, Neb. (AP) The Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers
Cooperative has scheduled a meeting Tuesday in the wake of Thursdays
growers-only meeting held by Imperial Sugar Co. officials.
The cooperative said in a release that it called the meeting after
learning that Imperial Sugar is trying to discourage the Western Sugar
buyout, hoping Western growers will grow for Holly Sugar. Imperial Sugar
is the parent company of Holly Sugar.
The cooperatives president, Rick Dorn of Billings, said he does not
want a skirmish with Holly Sugar or Imperial Sugar, but felt it necessary
to respond to claims that the cooperative is not viable.
The cooperative is urging caution among growers about contracting with
Imperial because the company is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Dorn said.
Imperial has assured growers that their 2001 crop is protected under
the bankruptcy plan.
Dorn disagreed. There are no specifics in writing from the bankruptcy
court, he said.
Imperial has said it would add language to the plan to make growers a
payment priority in the fall, even if the company remains in bankruptcy.
Tate & Lyle North America Sugars is selling its Western Sugar
factories to the grower cooperative which has members in Nebraska,
Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. |