If you are a restaurant owner, you will want to get acquainted with your local farm cooperative. These collectives of family-owned farms can provide you with fresh produce at a very good price.

Before you begin doing business with an agricultural cooperative, you should try to learn more about them and how they operate. Some things to include in your farm cooperative organizations education and training are:

1. The history of farm cooperatives, how they work, and what sets them apart from individual farms.

2. What farm co-op organizations exist in your area and how to get in touch with them.

3. How to begin a relationship with a farm cooperative organization that benefits both the co-op and your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about the history of farm cooperatives and how they work

Farm cooperatives, in a nutshell, are groups of family farmers who come together to set prices in the local market. They also share the profits they make by investing these back into the co-op to benefit all of the members.

I recommend: Visit the Georgia Humanities Council's web page to read a complete history of how farm cooperatives got started in the United States. Then go to the website of the United Farmers Cooperative, one of the oldest farm co-ops in the country, and take a look at the history page for more details on what a cooperative is.

Discover what farm cooperatives operate in your target area

It's important to find local co-op farms to supply your restaurant. As you well know, fresh farm products do not keep for very long and do not travel especially well over long distances. Luckily, no matter where you live, there is bound to be a farm supply cooperative nearby.

I recommend: Go to PickYourOwn and use the search function to find farms in your state. Contact the farmers in your county or in a couple of surrounding ones to ask whether they are farm cooperative members and to get average pricing. If some are not in cooperatives, you can still get pricing and see how this compares to that of co-op members. Also consider attending the Organic Trade Association's trade show. It's a perfect opportunity to meet suppliers if you're looking for an organic farm co-op.

Determine how to build a mutually beneficial relationship with a farm co-op

Once you've found a farm co-op to work with, you may be unsure of what to do next. Most times, restaurant owners set up long-term relationships with the farm cooperatives they partner with.

I recommend: Go to LocalHarvest and read the article on farm subscriptions, which describes how you can pay a certain sum to get a supply of produce from a cooperative all season long. Then read about Agraria, a restaurant in Washington, D.C. This establishment markets itself as using only locally grown farm products. It's a perfect case study for how you may want to use your relationship with a co-op to advance your business.

Farming cooperatives process, handle and market various agricultural commodities, provide financial services and supply farm supplies. They are a team of passionate professionals who want to share their experiences and knowledge. Coop farms offer you networking opportunities and professional relationships to help you grow your business.

Farm cooperative organizations share their strategies, expertise and success stories. The organization itself is a wealth of information, representation and leadership with one goal: to grow the farming industry. Professional development and partnerships are encouraged. Consider:

1. Using coop farms to forge relationships to grow both your business and as an individual.

2. Paying annual dues to belong to a farm cooperative.

3. Membership benefits to range from events and conferences to job banks and newsletters.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use local and national farming cooperatives to grow your business

Joining an agricultural coop gives you the opportunity for individual and professional growth. They promote partnerships and offer resources to make you a more successful farming professional.

I recommend: National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) is an agricultural cooperative for regional and national farm cooperatives. It began in 1929 and represents 3,000 local farmer cooperatives. Fill out a form online to receive information about becoming a NCFC member. Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) is a partnership between farmers' and workers' organizations, representatives of the cooperative movement and the United Nations. Members work toward sustainable cooperative development through technical cooperation and information, policy dialogues and activities. View and sign up for COPAC meetings. Use the Farm World directory to find additional farm associations, listed alphabetically.

Pay annual dues to join a farm cooperative

Farm cooperatives usually have several different membership levels, ranging in price and benefits. You have the option to choose which level matches your needs and goals. Some associations also base your dues on the amount of revenue you make.

I recommend: Organic Trade Association (OTA) is an agricultural cooperative that represents the organic industry in the US, Canada and Mexico. It's open to shippers, growers, certifiers, processors, farmer associations, consultants, brokers, retailers and distributors. Membership level is based on your gross annual organic revenue. Be prepared to choose a level and write a business explanation when applying for membership. Join United States Dairy Export Council (USDEC) if you're a dairy processor, US milk producer, cooperative dairy company, supplier or export marketing and trading company. Fill out a membership information request to receive a membership packet and explanation.

Cooperative farms offer members a number of professional benefits

A farm coop helps you develop connections through educational courses and events. It offers industry expertise, networking opportunities, publications and communications.

I recommend: CropLife America is the biggest trade organization for agriculture and pest management. You can register as a manufacturer, formulator, associate member or novel technology member. Benefits include a newsletter, governmental information, events, an annual meeting and industry publications. Email CropLife to register. Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) has eight state-wide chapters. Members benefit from conferences, newsletters and educational workshops. Review the calendar of events.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take time to become familiar with all the benefits offered by the farm coop. This way, you can take advantage of everything the organization offers.