Since 1967, the Federation of Southern Co-operatives (FSC) has worked to increase incomes, support economic development, and assist in land retention, especially for African Americans but essentially for all family farmers in the Southern US. This presentation focuses on efforts to develop regional marketing and food distribution systems that can link co-operative communities in the South with those in other parts of the country through trade.

1. Building Food Systems
of Solidarity
Opportunities for Linking
Co-operative Communities
through Trade

2. Workshop Description
Since 1967, the Federation of Southern
Co-operatives (FSC) has worked to increase
incomes, support economic development and
assist in land retention, especially for African
Americans but essentially for all family farmers in
the Southern U.S. This session will focus on efforts
to develop regional food distribution systems that
can link co-operative communities in the South
with those on other parts of the country through
trade.

3. Our Presenters
Cornelius Blanding, Moderator
Federation of Southern Co-operatives
Ben Burkett
Federation of Southern Co-operatives
Erbin Crowell
Neighboring Food Co-op Association
Cornelius Key
Federation of Southern Co-operatives

4. Federation of Southern Cooperatives /
Land Assistance Fund
For 49 years the Federation
of Southern Cooperatives
has served through
cooperative economic
development, and retention
and advocacy for the
development of low income
people and their
communities.

5. Federation of Southern Cooperatives /
Land Assistance Fund
The Federation has
maintained a membership
of low income grassroots
people, organized into
cooperatives, and credit
unions to make
quantitative and
qualitative changes in their
lives and communities.

6. FSCs Mission: 3 Major Themes
• To develop cooperatives and credit unions as a
means for people to enhance the quality of
their lives & improve their communities
• To save, protect, and expand the land holdings
of black family farmers in the South
• To develop, advocate, and support policies to
benefit our membership of black & other family
farmers & low income rural communities.

7. Why Co-operate?
• Cooperatives are voluntary
business organizations formed by
the people. Usually caused by a
common need.
• If the need is too big, for example,
if there is a need for a tractor or
storage facility, the group will come
together and meet to discuss how
they can assist one another, with
the result being a unified effort and
a mutual benefit:
• Cooperation

8. SOCO:
A Regional Marketing System
A subsidiary of the
Federation of
Southern
Cooperatives/Land
Assistance Fund

9. The History & Mission
SOCO Regional Marketing system
! SOCO was established on June 6, 2002
to collect, process, package and ship
fresh vegetables’ and melons produced
by members of its affiliated
cooperatives. The venture is intended
to strengthen the financial viability of
African-American farmers by
providing access to mainstream
markets. Minority farmers across the
South, who are generally in precarious
financial condition, need alternatives
to row crop agriculture low commodity
prices and frequent weather problems.
! SOCO will market fresh produce grown
by farmer cooperatives in the South,
which will supply collard greens,
peppers, squash and watermelons for
packing, processing and shipping to
various markets established by its sales
force. Other products will be added as
it becomes feasible.

10. The History & Mission
SOCO Regional Marketing system
! The proposed project will have
considerable financial and social
impact the in the South,
throughout the Federations six
target states (Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and South Carolina). As a regional
marketing network, SOCO will
help minority farmers gain access
to profitable markets, thereby
achieving substantial increases in
their income and variability as
family farmers.
! SOCO will demonstrate that
minority farmers, despite decades
of discrimination and economic
obstacles, can unite to create
products that appeal to the
mainstream and in fact feed an
increasing desire for healthy food.
The SOCO operations will (1)
receive produce from participating
farmers; (2) cool, wash, grade, and
pack the product; and (3) ship it to
regional and national market
outlets.

11. The History & Mission
SOCO Regional Marketing system
! The success of SOCO will be
organizing and training the
growers to grow and harvest high
quality crops, in sufficient
quantity, at the time planned for.
This will be the responsibility of
the Federation of Southern
Cooperatives, which has
specialized in working with
minority farmers, most with low
resources, in the South to
strengthen their ability to survive
in the market.
! As SOCO matures, farmers who
are members of other Federation
Cooperatives in Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and South Carolina will mark the
beginning of a truly regional,
multi-state operation benefiting
hundreds or perhaps thousands of
small and minority farmers
throughout the Deep South.
! Without alternatives such as those
proposed here, minority farmers
may once again lose ground until
they are an extinct species.

12. A Cooperative Effort
Among Southern States

13. Seedless
Watermelon
Production

14. GREEN PRODUCTION
Collards
Turnips

15. Once
greens
have
been
harvested,
they
enter
facility
to
be
iced
before
shipping
to
reduce
heat
in
greens

16. Washing & Loading greens

18. Loading & transferring Greens & other products

19. The truck has been loaded
and leaving the field, being
transported to the facility to
be iced and shipped directly
to Glory Foods

20. Sweet potatoes

21. Okra & peppers
Banana
peppers
Hot
peppers
Okra

22. IRRIGATION

23. Constructing a loading dock

25. Regional Marketing System: Greens
2011
• Greens sold per 30lb. (shipping
boxes)
• Total pounds sold 428,293
• Total Income $59,245.40
2012
• Greens sold per 30lb. (shipping
boxes)
• Total pounds sold 1,031,880
• Total Income $137,584
2013
• Greens sold per 30lb. (shipping
boxes)
• Total pounds sold 1,250,010
• Total Income $125,001
2014
Greens sold per 30lb. (shipping boxes)
Total pounds sold 950,010
Total Income $95,000
Total poundage 3,660,193
Gross Sales $416,830.40

26. Regional Marketing System
Watermelons
• 2003 $ 132,161.93
• 2004 $ 98,537.35
• 2005 $125, 397.28
• 2006 $ 245,307.60
• 2007 $ 75, 333.00
Total poundage 5,511,581
Gross Sales $676,737

27. Regional Marketing System
Value Added production
2012
-­‐
2015
Pecans
Peas
Okra
Kale
Squash
White
potatoes
Bu7erbeans
Herbs
Eggplants
Greens
Total
$452,600

28. Pros
• Larger markets
• Mentorship Program
• Creating jobs & business opportunities
• Increased profitability
• Irrigation
• Increased membership
• Healthy eating
Cons
• Operating capital
• Cooling space
• Ice machine
• Loading dock
• Packing facility
• Lack of irrigation
• Transportation/trucking
Regional challenges & accomplishments

29. Cooperative impacts
• Buying and selling locally
• Marketing tool for farmers
• Market expansion
• Increase in membership
• Sustainability
• Quality products
• Increased volume and
profitability
• International markets
• Value added production &
products
• Advertisement
• Food Safety

30. Operational logistics
• Coordination
– Regional cooperatives
• Education and training
– Markets
– Product(s)
– Food safety certification
– Planting
– Acreage
– Crop management/maintenance
– Harvesting
– Packing
– Transportation
– Trace-back

31. A Co-op Marketing & Retail Perspective
Erbin Crowell,
Neighboring Food
Co-op Association (NFCA)
• Equal Exchange Domestic
Fair Trade Program
• Co-Founder, Domestic Fair
Trade Association
• Independent Consultant
Linking Southern Alternatives
Co-op with NE Food Co-ops
• NFCA: Purchasing Power as
Lever for Food System
Change

32. Why Domestic Fair Trade?
• 50 years ago farmers in Europe and North America received
between 45 and 60 percent of the money that consumers spent on
food. Today, between 5 and 20%.
• 1935: 6.8 million working farmers in the US; in 2003: 1.9 million — less
than the total US prison population.
• Suicide is now the leading cause of death among US farmers — three
times higher than in the general population.
• Over 50% of the revenue generated globally by food retailing can
be accounted for by just 10 corporations.
• In 1920, 1 in 7 farmers were African American; by 1998, just 1 in 100.
(From 2007 Presentation)

33. Economic & Social Impact
“The extent to which co-operative sectors
have practised co-operation among co-
operatives has depended partly on the
perceived economic advantages, but more
on whether they see themselves as part of a
wider movement.”
— Johnston Birchall, 1997:70

34. Pecans: Sharing People’s Stories

35. Pecans: Sharing People’s Stories

36. The Potential of Co-op to Co-op Trade
• Trade aligned with co-
op principles can
produce benefits for
producers, workers and
consumers
• Food co-ops can
provide crucial market
and logistics
information to support
marginalized producers
• Food co-op purchasing
power as a lever for
change in the food
system
• Focus on partnership
with producer co-ops
benefits and empowers
farmers as a group
rather than just
individuals

37. Economic Solidarity
“When we arise in the morning, we reach for a
sponge which is provided for us by a Pacific Islander.
We reach for soap that is created for us by a
Frenchman. The towel is provided by a Turk. Then at
the table we drink coffee which is provided for us by a
South American, or tea by a Chinese, or cocoa by a
West African. Before we leave for our jobs we are
beholden to more than half the world.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

38. “The arc of the
moral universe is
long, but it bends
towards justice.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

39. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
www.federation.coop
www.nfca.coop