About MinnDak Ag

MinnDak Ag has built a long-standing record of excellence as a processor and supplier of specialty crop food ingredients. Since its origins in 1947, the company has grown into one of the most modern and efficient mustard flour mills and buckwheat complexes in North America, serving food industry customers worldwide from facilities in Grand Forks, ND, Donaldson, MN, and Dickinson, ND.

Our History

MinnDak Ag, as it exists today, represents the culmination of 78 years of innovation and entrepreneurial vision, first established by its founder, Mr. Harris Peterson. The company traces its roots to a 30-member cooperative originally formed to market peas and later canary seed. As agricultural markets evolved, Mr. Peterson recognized emerging opportunities in buckwheat and mustard production. To meet this demand, he organized a new cooperative dedicated to processing and marketing these specialty crops.

As General Manager, Mr. Peterson was deeply involved in every aspect of the business—from building relationships with growers to developing new sales markets. Under his leadership, the cooperative expanded to 600–700 members and established a strong international presence. Demand from foreign markets, particularly Japan, soon accounted for more than half of total revenue.

This success eventually exceeded the co-op’s loan covenants. Rather than restrict growth, Mr. Peterson and the Board made the strategic decision for him to purchase all member ownership interests and dissolve the cooperative. The transition was seamless due to his extensive operational knowledge and long-standing grower relationships, enabling him to expand both sourcing and global sales.

In 2017, Harris A. Peterson sold Minn-Dak Growers Ltd. to his son, Harold Peterson, and grandson, Jeremy Peterson. Under their leadership, several long-held strategic goals took shape, and the company adopted the name Minn-Dak Ag, LLC. In 2023, Harold and Jeremy sold MinnDak Ag to Hensall Cooperative, based in Ontario, Canada, ensuring that the company’s tradition of exceptional service and innovation continues under new stewardship.

Our Research & Grower Support

MinnDak Ag maintains a comprehensive crop production research program that addresses the challenges growers face when raising specialty crops such as buckwheat and mustard. We work closely with growers in all phases of the farming cycle to help integrate these crops profitably into their operations. Our activities include:

• Grower education meetings before each season
• In-season crop management support
• Field research to address grower questions
• Sponsorship of variety development research
• Technical guides, bulletins, and extension materials

These efforts help ensure that only the highest-quality raw products enter our processing plants.

Processing & Quality Innovation

The latest processing systems and laboratory technology enable us to provide customers with highly consistent, top-quality food ingredients. Our ongoing research focuses on both improving quality and exploring new applications, including:

• Evaluating buckwheat flour performance in pasta, breads, and puffed snacks
• Developing improved “deheating” technologies for mustard
• Exploring new uses for specialty ingredients—such as buckwheat starch for fat reduction and mustard flour as an antioxidant
• Benchmarking our in-house quality data with external laboratories

Market Awareness

We continually monitor global food industry trends to identify emerging opportunities for our ingredients. These efforts include:

• Direct engagement with customers
• Participation in trade shows
• Targeted market research
• Digital outreach and promotion

Committed to Excellence

This integrated approach—combining crop research, processing innovation, and market development—allows MinnDak Ag to remain a trusted leader in specialty crop food ingredients and continue pushing the industry forward.