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Supporting and strengthening co-operatives in NB
The Co-operative Business Model
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To understand the co-‐opera=ve business model and its difference from other business models
To iden=fy the different types of CSA and direct marke=ng co-‐ops in North America
To understand the steps involved in star=ng a co-‐op
AGENDA
Intro What is a co-‐opera=ve? How is a co-‐opera=ve different from other business models?
Examples of CSA and direct marke=ng co-‐ops How to start a co-‐op. Ques=ons
GETTING TO KNOW THE ROOM
Who is currently a member of a producer or food related co-‐op?
Who is currently on a board of a co-‐op? Who is interested in star=ng a co-‐op? Who is curious about what a co-‐op is?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD CO-‐OP?
CO-‐OPS IN NB
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
THE CO-‐OPERATIVE DIFFERENCE Structure Co-‐opera-ve Business Private Enterprise/ Corporate
Enterprises Purpose To meet the social, cultural,
environmental, and economic needs of the members.
Profit for owner / shareholders on investment of =me or money. Maximize shareholder profit.
Ownership By Members By Owner / Shareholders Profits Profits remain within co-‐
opera=ve to build the business, surpluses are paid to members, and stay in the community.
Profits remain within the business to build the business, surpluses are paid to owner / shareholders through dividends, and may or may not stay in the community.
Decision Making
One Member-‐One Vote The number of vo=ng shares held per shareholder.
QUINTE ORGANIC FARMERS CO-‐OP
hZp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIwhX6jKWuw
hZp://www.coopscanada.coop/en/orphan/Featured-‐Resources-‐from-‐the-‐Ag-‐CDI-‐Program/Co-‐ops-‐in-‐Value-‐
Added-‐Agriculture-‐-‐-‐Video-‐Series/The-‐Governance-‐of-‐Co-‐opera=ves
A Co-‐op of producers 30 farmers from South East NB
Mission Promote the development of sustainable agriculture in
southeastern New Brunswick.
Manage the Dieppe Farmers Market
JUST US! COFFEE ROASTERS
Wolfville, NS Worker Co-‐op Coffee Roasters Cafés CEDIF
From CSA to Multifarm CSA: The Story of Local Harvest
I don’t think we could have skipped over those hard early years. The only way to get around that is to have a single leader who makes all the decisions. That would not have
been a true cooperative. So, looking back, I’m glad that we spent a year coming up with the paperwork and making rough
plans, and also feel that the first three or four years of “discussion” have paid off. Now, we have all agreed and
bought into the system that we have created, and we all have a sense of ownership. That has been the glue that has held
us together. —Dave Trumble
HOW TO GET STARTED?
1. Assemble a group of interested people Iden=fy needs
2. Conduct a pre-‐feasibility study 3. Hold an organizing mee=ng 4. Conduct a feasibility study 5. Organize the associa=on 6. Organize the enterprise 7. Hold ini=al general mee=ng
RESOURCES
hZp://www.coopscanada.coop/assets/firefly/files/files/The_Lay_of_the_Land_Final_June_16_2009.pdf
Looking at CSA from a co-‐opera=ve prospec=ve hZp://agmarke=ng.extension.psu.edu/ComFarmMkt/PDFs/local_harvest_csa.pdf
BC Co-‐op Associa=on – Food Hub Co-‐ops hZp://bcca.coop/foodhub
Family Farm based marke=ng co-‐ops hZp://beyondfactoryfarming.org/build-‐alterna=ves/distribu=on/family-‐farm-‐based-‐marke=ng-‐co-‐opera=ves
QUESTIONS?
