Maps help us navigate the world, and they not only show us how to get from point A to point B, but, depending on the type of map, they can also help us to see where patterns, clusters, and gaps exist in a spatial environment. As part of KCARD’s state-wide Local Food System Expansion Initiative, a series of interactive maps has been developed to visualize the Kentucky local food system. Stay tuned for parts two and three of the series in the next few weeks. We will present a closer look into local food sales in Kentucky and the various industries that make up the local food system.
Farmers in 14 states now benefit from the vision the founders of Kentucky Organic Farm and Feed Inc. had in 2009. From serving just two farms to farms all over the region, Kentucky Organic Farm and Feed Inc. (KOFFI) of Guthrie, Kentucky is the leading organic feed and fertilizer supplier in the area, offering 100% certified organic feed of any type to a wide variety of customers.
The purpose of a cooperative is to provide and distribute benefits to members based on their use of the services of the cooperative. Co-op benefits may include better prices for goods, improved services, a new market for goods, or a better source of inputs. These benefits also include receiving patronage refunds (also commonly referred to as patronage dividends), which is the distribution of net profits of the business based upon the use of the co-op’s services. The patronage refund may be in the form of payment or a written notice of allocation to the member’s equity account in the co-op.
The day-to-day business operations of a cooperative are for the most part no different than any other business, but one of the key differences is that people who patronize the business play an active role in its governance. Cooperatives are democracies, and they are dependent upon the active participation of its members.
Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a cooperative development center, providing education, support, and advisory services to groups interested in forming cooperatives and to cooperatives who have already formed. KCARD has served these needs in Kentucky since 2001 providing assistance to over 50 cooperatives and helping with the establishment of 27 cooperatives.
The cooperative business structure can be an effective organization, but it is not appropriate for everyone or every business idea. When deciding whether to develop a business as cooperative, there are four key factors that need to be present for the cooperative structure to be the right choice.
In our last post about Co-ops we talked about how cooperatives demonstrate the following principles: User-owned, User-Controlled; and User-benefitted. There are many positive attributes to the cooperative business structure, but it is not the appropriate structure for every business and its owners. Choosing the appropriate business structure is an important strategic decision for business owners.
So, what is a cooperative? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a cooperative is “an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services.” Put simply a cooperative is a business owned and controlled by the people that it services.
KCARD is often contacted by individuals and groups that have a business idea and are interested in forming a cooperative. A cooperative can be a great choice and we help people form cooperatives all the time, but many times the cooperative business structure is misunderstood and people have the wrong idea about what a cooperative is and when it is the right business structure.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is a non-profit organization established to facilitate agricultural and rural businesses in Kentucky. We are supported primarily through grants provided by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Additional support is provided through our work with partners around the state and through fees charged for select client services.
