WHAT IS A COOPERATIVE (CO-OP)?
A cooperative is an organization that is owned and democratically controlled by the people who use its products, supplies or services. Cooperatives are formed to meet the specific objectives of members, and are structured to adapt to member’s changing needs. Working together as a group, members find they can accomplish more collectively than they could individually.

WHAT IS OUR COOPERATIVE?
That's the long definition, and it's true. But what is a cooperative for us? And WHY a co-op?
Montana Food Hub was designed from the beginning as a way to connect all the different sides of local food-producers, food businesses, wholesale food buyers, and local food consumers. We wanted all of them to be able to own the food hub together.
Co-Ops are owned by their members, serve the needs of their members, and are primarily funded by their members. It's a great model for a project this big. But it means that we don't need "customers", we need people who care about local food like we do and want something that will serve all of us.
7 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Co-ops are a global form of business and all of them follow the same Guiding Principles.
We love this visual from Montana Cooperative Development Center (who also helped us extensively with the development of the Hub!) Check out their site and social media for more on the principles.
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COOPERATIVE VALUES
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Check out the International Cooperative Alliance and NCBA/CLUSA for more information on cooperatives, as well.