The Douglas-based Mountain States Lamb and Wool Cooperative has purchased the remaining interest in Mountain States Rosen.

In 2003, B. Rosen & Sons, a large meat packer, announced that it was joining forces with the cooperative to form Mountain States Rosen.

Becky Gitthens, director of finance and operations for the cooperative, said the plan all along was for the cooperative to eventually own Mountain States Rosen.

The cooperative has subsequently sold a minority share to veal supplier Formula One.

Gitthens said the cooperative markets lamb across the U.S. and in some foreign markets. It also has a program that features producers from the region on packages of lamb.

"That's a program we hope to expand further," she said. "We've had very good reception to that message."

Mountain States Rosen is billed as the nation's largest fully-integrated lamb and veal company.

"We'd like to expand the number of lambs marketed through Mountain States Co-op because we do pay significant premiums, and that makes this the place for quality lambs," Gitthens said.

To that end, she noted that membership in the cooperative is still open. It currently has about 140 family producers in 13 states.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.