|
|
Article: Cooperatives, Farmers'
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
COOPERATIVES, FARMERS'
COOPERATIVES, FARMERS'.
A cooperative is a group of people getting together and agreeing to sell or buy items in larger amounts than an individual would normally sell or buy. The larger amounts allow for better prices due to volume purchased.
A farmers' cooperative generally must meet four major criteria: members must be agricultural or aquacultural (raising of plants or animals in or near water) producers; no matter how much stock a member owns or how much capital a member has invested, each member has one vote; business can be conducted with nonmembers (such as in a store open to the public), business done with nonmembers cannot exceed the dollar value of ...