Some well-known agricultural cooperatives include Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Sunkist and Land-O-Lakes.What Is a Cooperative Business?Role Of Cooperative Business
An example of a consumer cooperative business is a grocery co-op. In this type of association, anyone may join as a paying member (owner) or non-member. All can purchase the items sold in bulk, often at lower than typical prices. Any surpluss in earnings is distributed back to members.
Common examples of cooperatives include agricultural cooperatives, electric cooperatives, retail cooperatives, housing cooperatives and credit unions.
Those types of cooperatives include producer/marketing, retail supply, utilities, cable television, agricultural services, fish marketing, child care, farmers' markets and community service.
Co-operative organization in which all members are co-operatives
A co-operative federation or secondary co-operative is a co-operative in which all members are, in turn, co-operatives.
Historically, co-operative federations have predominantly come in the form of co-operative wholesale societies and co-operative unions.
Co-operative federations are a means through which co-operatives can fulfill the sixth Co-operative Principle, co-operation among co-operatives.
The International Co-operative Alliance notes that “Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.”
