Through its subsidiaries, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) manufactures its products using the finest dark air-cured and dark-fired tobaccos grown in Tennessee and Kentucky. We have made our products in those two states for more than 70 years and now employ on a full-time or seasonal basis nearly 900 people in Kentucky and Tennessee.
USSTC has worked hard to build a special relationship with the farmers of the region. It is a relationship reinforced by responsible actions that support the farm economy and also assist in building communities.
We Pay Top Dollar
One hundred percent of the tobacco we purchase for use in Copenhagen, Skoal and other USSTC products is grown in the United States. And, we pay top dollar for the top-quality leaf we buy. To illustrate:
- The price paid by USSTC for dark air-cured types 35 and 36 rose from an average of $1.32 per pound in 1986 to an average of $2.16 per pound in 2006.
- In the same period, USSTC’s purchase price for fire-cured types 22 and 23 rose from an average of $1.53 per pound to an average of $2.40 per pound.
These purchasing patterns clearly demonstrate our commitment to premium quality, to the agricultural economy, and to the families and communities that make it run.
We Help Farms and Families
Research is vital to increasing yields and improved production of every crop. Tobacco is no exception. We are proud of our broad support of research at Kentucky and Tennessee universities and the experimental stations. Over the last 15 years, we have contributed more than $4.5 million to research related to disease-resistant tobacco varieties and improved growing, harvesting and barn-curing methods.
USSTC also funds adult scholarship programs and research grants at five local colleges and universities in Kentucky and Tennessee. These scholarships have benefited more than 350 families, helping preserve the American tradition of the family farm.
We Support Communities
For many years, USSTC has been a generous supporter of dozens of organizations and charities throughout Kentucky and Tennessee that are part of the fabric of both states. These range from the Red Cross and local fire departments to cultural groups and area food banks. Among other recipients of donations are many Kentucky and Tennessee extension services that benefit thousands of tobacco growers.
Our support is rooted in the Core Values of USSTC’s parent company, UST Inc. These values reflect our commitment to improve the quality of the communities where our employees, stakeholders and consumers live and work.
We Listen
We consider it a serious responsibility to help our tobacco producers be more productive. We listen to them. One example is buying our dark tobaccos in flake form to reduce farm labor costs. We work with our producers to help them succeed.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has a huge stake in the tobacco economy in Kentucky and Tennessee. We're proud of our history in the region, and, we will continue to play a leading role in keeping the farm economy strong.