Neighborhood Produce Co-op
A neighborhood produce co-op is a way to get the community working together
. It is also helps some of the less fortunate families in the area to be able to get sufficient food to feed their families. Organizing and managing a produce co-op can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in your life.What kind of skills or education should I have?
You should be able to talk to and relate to people from a variety of different socio-economic backgrounds. You should have at least some knowledge of farming in general as well as how a co-op works before you begin. Finally, you should also have some skills with conflict resolution.
What do I need to start?
Most neighborhood produce co-ops operate with a community garden, although member gardens help to contribute to the co-op as well. Once the garden or gardens are in place, it is important to decide what to plant. Each gardener will grow a crop he or she will bring in to trade for other items that he or she needs or wants so that everyone can have a variety. The surplus can be sold for profits benefiting the entire co-op equally.
What are the risks?
Poor leadership, poor weather and poor crop results are the primary risks. If there is a good harvest one year, however, the majority of the people will be more inclined to try again the following year. Keep in mind that the membership of the co-op is fluid; people will join and others will drop out.
Who are the competitors? Technically, since everyone is working within the system of the co-op there is no competition.
What are the financial risks involved?
There is the possibility that everyone's crops will fail and no one will have either food or money as a result. As the garden gets bigger the owner of the land may ask for more and more rent. You cannot solve everyone's problems. The whole concept of the co-op is for everyone to work together and work toward a common goal as one.
Where will this work best? A produce co-op works best in smaller areas where people know one another and will work together. Close knit neighborhoods are probably going to be more receptive to the idea of a co-op than larger communities.
How does it get started? As with other business ventures, this one gets started with an idea and a meeting. The best time to start planning for a neighborhood produce co-op is during the winter months so everyone can decide whether they really want to commit to it, what they would like to grow and how much time they have to dedicate.
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