Healthy Food Ingredients LLC, the parent company of SK Food International, Fargo, ND, has merged SK Food with Hesco/Dakota Organic Products. The merger was effective on Dec. 24.

HFI provides non-GMO, organic, gluten-free and identity-preserved ingredients to customers in the food manufacturing and foodservice industries. Founded in 1990 by David and Beverly Skyberg, SK Food is a provider of identity-preserved, non-GMO and organic grains, seeds, soybeans, pulses, expeller oils and flours/flakes. SK Food remains a business with family ownership, with David Skyberg serving as an owner and board member, along with second-generation owners Jennifer Tesch and Aaron Skyberg.

“We are excited about our association with HFI, and now Hesco, which lends to new opportunities for growth under the Kaizen concept of continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to success in our supplier and customer relationships,” says David Skyberg.

Hesco/Dakota Organic Products is a South Dakota-based specialty ingredients company that provides conventional and organic wheat, durum, barley, rye, flax, ancient grains and more in whole and milled form. Hesco offers a variety of multigrain whole bakery blends, cereal and prepared food blends, as well as pet food blends.

“We are excited to join the HFI team with SK Food and look forward to better serving our customers and the industry,” says Brad Hennrich, president of Hesco. “As a result of the merger, both Hesco and SK Food have expanded what we’re now able to offer our existing domestic and international customers. In addition to reaching new areas of the industry, we will be able to better provide our customers the supply assurance required in today’s competitive specialty grains market through our vast grower network.” Hennrich continues to maintain ownership in Hesco.

Both SK Food and Hesco are certified organic by QAI, Kosher through Orthodox Union and Non-GMO Project Verified. SK Food is in the process of Safe Quality Food certification, with planned completion for June, while Hesco currently holds “A” grades for both its South Dakota and Nebraska facilities through British Retail Consortium audits. Both SQF and BRC are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative.