The cooperative structure is an established community entity with solid roots in agriculture. As cooperative members, producers can better negotiate and agree on a price for their product, giving them more leverage with buyers.

As the local foods movement has gained momentum, local food cooperatives have become increasingly vital to linking farmers to the local supply chain. The value chain for a cooperative consists of many layers between the producer and final consumer.

Cooperatives can help farmers succeed by uniting members, providing scale, coordination, and improved marketing. The cooperative structure is an established community entity with strong roots in agriculture.

A helpful collection of Presentations, Publications and Technical Assistance Resources about Cooperative Development in the Ag-Business.

This workbook focuses on Local Retail/Wholesale Meat Marketing , Local Meat Processing – Challenges and Opportunities, Opportunity for a Regional Cooperative or Collaboratively-owned, Cooperatives vs. Other Business Ownership Models and Grants and Other Financial Assistance Options.