Creating Opportunities for Sustainable and Profitable Production

By Jack Criss

Based in Cleveland, Delta Diamond has a 400,000-bushel slip form concrete elevator and is also outfitted with a modern seed cleaning plant, warehousing capabilities, as well as an additional 2.8 acres for future expansion opportunities.

In other words: they can do quite a bit by “acting as partners in the stewardship of our clients’ by creating opportunities in sustainable and profitable production,” says Delta Diamond Founder and CEO, Leigh Allen. “We are also able to receive the following: corn; soybean; rice; yellow field peas; and other grains. With forty-three separate bins ranging from 5,000 – 18,000 bushels we can accommodate identity preservation needs that you may have. Our extensive network of growers also enables us the ability to provide contract growing services,” adds Allen.

Rooted in the Delta, Allen says that for five generations his family grew up in the Delta and around agriculture. “My family farmed for years in Arkansas, specifically west of Helena, and while I didn’t grow up on a farm, agriculture has always been near and dear to my heart.”

The only minority-owned grain elevator in the entire nation, Delta Diamond – located two blocks west of Hwy. 61 – possesses the following equipment: and capabilities  two 10K bushel per hour elevator legs; complete dual dust collection systems; 2K bushel per hour grain scalper; all hopper bottom and aerated bins; 480v electrical system; grain dryer capability; full-length hydraulic truck dump and state certified truck scales.

Allen, who spent five years in Washington, D.C. spent twelve years working on the staff of former Arkansas Senator, Blanche Lincoln. He also spent time consulting with the USDA during the Obama administration as well as other political posts.  He says he got tired of politics, however, and became first-ever Executive Director of the National Black Growers Council. “I took that organization from one dues-paying member, Monsanto, to over ten including John Deere, among many others. I was very proud of that work.”

Delta Diamond grew out of Allen’s desire to be an entrepreneur. “I started working with a company to start some field trials for non-GMO commodities in the Delta, like yellow field peas and soybeans, and it went well. And, after looking at a few other locations, we picked Cleveland in 2022 to start Delta Diamond.

“We know that food grown on healthy land with healthy farm is, by its nature, healthy food,” says Allen, of the mission of Delta Diamond, which employs six people at the Cleveland facility. “We are environmentally safe in our practices and work, as well, which is important today. We’re getting to know more growers and, in the process, growing the business.

“I now divide my time between Cleveland and Washington, D.C., because my wife, a former lobbyist for Walmart, loves the city and will never want to leave,” he laughs. “Russell McCain, who lives in Tunica, is the main on-the-ground supervisor at Delta Diamond and I’m lucky to have him during the times I’m back in D.C. I’m down in Cleveland about every other week to stay for three or four days, though. I love to deer hunt when I’m back!” says Allen.