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Supima Association of America

1954 - Present

BiographySupima was formed in 1954 in El Paso, Texas. In its early years Supima was primarily concerned with promotion, government regulations and agricultural research. In an effort to keep pace with the expanding interest worldwide in ELS cotton, Supima broadened its responsibilities in 1978 when it merged with the Arizona Cotton Planting Seed Distributors, essentially overseeing the production and distribution of all certified American Pima planting seed. However, the division was sold to Delta and Pine Land Company in 1993 when commercial seed companies had entered the business. The sale also marked the end of Supima's 30-year-old partnership with the USDA in its Arizona-based Pima Improvement Program. Supima had provided funding for the program designed to develop new and improved seed varieties. Revenues from the seed division also was used to help finance ginning research and improved production practices.

Supima is represented by a board of directors composed of 11 Pima cotton producers: seven from California, two from Texas and one each from Arizona and New Mexico. Directors are elected by the general membership to three-year terms and are eligible for re-election. Board officers are elected to two-year terms by the directors as follows; chairman, vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer. The offices of president and executive vice president are full-time staff positions.

http://www.supimacotton.org/history/index.htm

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