Denimatrix, the jeans manufacturing division of Lubbock, Texas-based Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, recently was named Exporter of the Year in Textiles and Apparel for 2012 by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters in recognition of the company's 25 percent growth in the value of jeans exports.

The award was presented during a gala on Oct. 4 by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina and AGEXPORT directors.  The gala, held in Guatemala City, marked the 30th anniversary of the founding of AGEXPORT.

PCCA is a diversified, farmer-owned cotton marketing cooperative.The cooperative owns six cotton warehouse facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

"For three decades, we have worked to transform Guatemala into an exporting country because a country with a small economy can only transit the road to economic development by looking beyond local and regional markets," said AGEXPORT President Francisco Menendez.  The organization also recognizes exporting companies in the following categories: Fishing and Agriculture; Export Services; Rural Supply Chain; and Small and Medium Exporting Company.

"We are very proud of the way our thousands of employees work together for the common goals of producing outstanding apparel and stimulating our local economy," said Marco Cotton, senior vice president of Denimatrix. "This award is another symbol of their dedication."

"Denimatrix has once again proven its excellence among another peer group of companies," said PCCA President and CEO Wally Darneille.  "Being named Textile and Apparel Exporter of the Year is a great honor," he added.  "Together with our Award for Corporate Excellence from the U.S. State Department, this shows the uniqueness of our vertically integrated model from field to fashion.  The support from our farmer-members and our Board allows the employees of all our divisions to strive for excellence, and we are very proud that these efforts were recognized by AGEXPORT's award."

PCCA is a diversified, farmer-owned cotton marketing cooperative.  Its Textile and Apparel Division, the only fully vertically integrated supply chain for denim apparel in the Western Hemisphere, is comprised of the American Cotton Growers denim mill in Littlefield, Texas, and Denimatrix, both of which are renowned for innovative, high-fashion denim fabrics and jeans.  The cooperative also owns six cotton warehouse facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.