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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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