The Colorado Organic Producers Association (COPA) is working with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) on determining the need for, and feasibility of, marketing and supply co-ops for organic producers in Colorado.

COPA has been helping in surveying producers, farmers markets, and CSA’s to determine what problems exist in marketing and obtaining supplies for organic production, and to gauge the interest in cooperative ventures.  Data collected so far indicates that, although co-ops are not for everyone by any means, many producers have problems in their operations and may benefit from such ventures.

COPA’s role is not to become a co-op, but to help bring together those who might form co-ops and help them obtain the resources to help in their efforts.  The RMFU’s Cooperative Development Center is one major resource, and a description of their Center follows.  We will be looking at a whole range of options from value-added, to pooling transportation to markets, to collaborative marketing of fresh, unprocessed produce.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center:   The goal of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative Development Center is to advance cooperative development as a model to foster sustainable human and economic development.  The Center strives to work with producers to develop cooperatives as a means to increase their ability to compete in the marketplace.  It serves as an information resource to provide technical assistance and training resources to help create and support cooperatives.

The survival of rural communities today depends on maintaining our production base, expanding job opportunities — especially for young people, and increasing the net income from our current and future businesses.  Adding value to the raw products produced in the community is one way to compete in the marketplace.

“New generation” cooperatives can be a tool that helps producers add value to their products and get closer to the final consumer thereby capturing a larger share of the final retail dollar.  New generation cooperatives are different from the traditional cooperative model in several ways:
 

This new cooperative model has been successful in many parts of the country, but especially in North Dakota.  Here in Colorado, Mountain View Harvest Cooperative has been formed by 225 wheat growers from the eastern plains to turn their high quality wheats into bread through the purchase of a bakery.  Other producers are marketing beef through cooperatives that focus on high quality, natural meats.  Cheese, vegetables, beans, pork and lamb are other products being considered for value-added cooperatives.

The Center believes that many producers are discovering cooperatives as a means to take charge of their economic destiny.  In this age of economic complexity, the self-help principle of cooperation, coupled with innovation and technology, are powerful and effective ways to address the needs of producers and their rural communities.