BOSTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee as the Rural Business of the Year for Massachusetts, recognizing the company’s long-standing commitment to ethical sourcing, employee ownership, and rural economic development.
Headquartered in Orange, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is a worker-owned coffee roaster serving customers nationwide. Since its founding in 1993, the company has maintained continuous operations in the rural community, supporting local jobs and sustaining manufacturing capacity in a region with limited large-scale employers.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the SBA,” said Beth Spong, CEO of Dean’s Beans. “As a fair-trade and organic coffee roaster in Orange, and especially as a 100% worker-owned cooperative, we’re excited for our entire team to be recognized for this award.”
Dean’s Beans is known for its commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical sourcing. The company exclusively sources certified organic, fair-trade, and shade-grown coffees from smallholder farmer cooperatives, building long-term partnerships that support rural farming communities while meeting growing consumer demand for responsibly produced products. Its coffee is distributed through wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, reaching independent cafés, food co-ops, workplaces, and households across the U.S.
In 2021, Dean’s Beans transitioned to 100% worker ownership, becoming a cooperative owned and operated by its employees. The company plays an active role in the Orange community by providing year-round employment, supporting local organizations through donations, and encouraging employee volunteerism. Its continued presence demonstrates how a small business can remain competitive while keeping ownership, jobs, and community engagement rooted locally.
Dean’s Beans received critical support from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in 2022 while preparing for its transition to employee ownership. Spong, then chief operating officer, worked with Anita Eliason, senior business advisor at the SBDC’s UMass Isenberg School of Management office. Eliason provided mentorship and guidance in developing a business plan that ultimately secured financing for the employee buyout.
With SBDC support, Dean’s Beans obtained $3.5 million in loans from two lenders in 2023, enabling the successful transition to a worker-owned cooperative. Eliason continues to serve as a strategic advisor, helping the company navigate regional business networks and strengthen its operational and financial foundation. The support provided by the SBDC was instrumental in ensuring a successful ownership transition that benefits both employees and the long-term sustainability of the business.
Spong will be honored at the annual National Small Business Week Massachusetts awards ceremony on Friday, May 8 at the Boston Marriott in Newton.
