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Consumer Producer Cooperatives

© Bob Ewing

Snow, we had a mid March snow this week. Not that unusual, but when you have almost put away the winter jacket, it can be discouraging. Not for long though, the Sun is bright and warm, at least when the cold North wind isn't blowing. This week we look close at community food cooperatives.

Community food cooperatives all operate according to the seven international principles of cooperatives, but they do take varied forms. There are cooperative farms, producer cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and cooperative shops. Lets take a look at each of these separately.

Cooperative farms:

A group of similar-minded people begin meeting. They form a local community cooperative which eventually decides to buy a farm. The co-op then farms/manages together, while sharing the produce equitably in relation to member input of money or labour. The cooperative may choose to hire a farm manager and farm labourers, reserving member labour for busy times to reduce costs.

Producer cooperatives:

A group of local farmers decides to form a cooperative. They will bulk purchase any inputs that they require. They will also be able to coordinate the marketing and distribution of their produce. This increases their profit as it reduces their costs. In urban community food systems this distribution is usually to urban cooperatives, box systems, farmers markets or local organic restaurants. This interaction works towards building a community economy.

Consumer cooperatives:

In a basic consumer cooperative, urban consumers work together to source and bulk-buy local chemical-free produce. Members take turns each week in collecting the produce and take turns for several months at being the organiser. Collection helps build the community because, members come to the organiser's house, or a common meeting point, to share out the food together. This is an ideal time to plan for a shared meal and/or community discussion.

Cooperative shops: This form of cooperative organization can create livelihood and meaningful activity for the members. The Cooperative Food shops are owned by community members who live near each other, ideally in the same neighbourhood. The members share a concern about and recognize a common need for fresh, nutritious food. Some cooperative shops will also sell products such as natural medicines, natural cleaning agents and locally made soaps, books, seeds and seedlings.

Discounts may be available to those who offer labour inputs. When profits are generated, they are circulated back into community. Some cooperatives aim not to make a profit beyond that needed for the cooperative development fund in order to keep the prices of the local organic food affordable. These shops become important community meeting places, display community notices