Co-ops Come in All Shapes and Sizes

by Abby Berry, Contributing Writer

When you hear the word “co-op,” what comes to mind? We hope you think of your local electric cooperative, but maybe you also think of a local farmers’ co-op or a credit union. You might be surprised to learn that cooperatives can be found in many industries and they offer a variety of services, each designed to serve their members in the best way possible.

A cooperative is a not-for-profit organization owned by its members. Across the globe, cooperatives generate more than $500 billion in revenue each year while providing more than 2 million jobs.

As a member of your electric cooperative, you have a voice — in other words, you’re not just a customer. Every year during your co-op’s annual meeting, you have the right to vote for the board of directors.

Co-ops offer a variety of services 

So what other kinds of co-ops are out there? Co-ops fall under a variety of categories and services, including agriculture and forestry; consumer and retail; banking and credit unions; health and wellness; and utilities, to name a few.

Here are a few other national co-ops you might recognize.

	C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network): Created in 1979, the American cable television network provides public access to the political process and receives no government funding.
	Welch’s Grape Juice: More than 1,000 family-farmer owners make up the Welch’s Grape Juice family, and they are located throughout the U.S. and Canada.
	Best Western: Owned by independent operators of more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries, Best Western is one of the world’s largest hotel chains.
	Ace Hardware: More than 4,600 Ace Hardware stores are independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs across the nation..
	Sunkist: This not-for-profit company’s membership is comprised of numerous growers located throughout California and Arizona.
	FTD Florists: The FTD membership includes thousands of growers located in the U.S. and Canada.

The list of cooperatives goes on and on, and as you can see, we come in all shapes and sizes. Your electric cooperative’s mission is to provide you with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. For more information about the services your cooperative offers, visit its local offices or website.

Source: Cooperative Research Network