Mercaris Founder and CEO Kellee James has come out victorious in an industry where Black women are often counted out.
On June 27, it was announced that Mercaris — the leading provider of sustainable agriculture prices and analytics in the United States — has been acquired by energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus, according to a press release.
The acquisition comes nearly 10 years after James set out to launch her company, which provides price assessments, analytics, and forecasts for organic and non-GMO agriculture. What’s more, it provides acreage estimates, supply/demand analysis, and facilities density mapping to the likes of farmers, government entities, and financial and agricultural inputs companies, the press release details.
“As a founder, I’m always looking for ways to scale our impact, and this acquisition is a strategic means to accelerate the work that both companies do in the vital sectors of agriculture, energy, and other critical markets,” James shared with AfroTech.
“I think it’s important to communicate the milestones we achieve, as Black women founders,” she added. “Startups are tough to build and grow, and taking Mercaris from idea to exit is something that I, and the Mercaris team, are proud of.”
The announcement is yet another milestone James can add to her list that includes having customers such as Perdue Chicken, Cargill, and Rabobank. Additionally, its market demand and price supported a $100 million USDA fund for organic dairy farmers in need of financial assistance.
Now, Mercaris plans to “accelerate the development of Argus agriculture pricing and analytics in the Americas, and open up opportunities in biofuels and other agricultural inputs.”
“We are pleased to further expand Argus agriculture capabilities in the Americas,” Argus Media Chairman and Chief Executive Adrian Binks shared in a press statement. “The development of sustainable agriculture is critical as the world embraces the transition to net zero. The integration of Mercaris into Argus will allow us to scale our offering and provide valuable new market transparency.”
