COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURE IN FLORIDA 13


 CHAPTER I

 Questions and Answers
 By D. E. Timmons
 (Former Marketing Economist at University of Florida)

 1 Q. WHAT IS A FARMERS' COOPERATIVE?
 A. It is an organization of agricultural producers
 chartered to transact collectively, business pertaining to
 agricultural products, supplies or services. The Agri-
 cultural Cooperative Act of Florida gives such associa-
 tions legal status and defines their purposes and powers.
 2. Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ADVAN-
 TAGES FARMERS HAVE FOUND FROM
 COOPERATIVE ACTION?
 A. Farmers use cooperatives to process, store
and market their produce and to purchase supplies and
services. Cooperative processmg plants prepare their
crops, livestock, and livestock products for market. Mar-
keting associations are used to obtain for their members
the highest possible price for their products, quality
considered. The cooperative purchasing association, on
the other hand, assists its members m obtaining their
farm supplies at the lowest possible prices. Coopera-
tives have the opportunity of encouraging production of
quality agricultural products by returning premium
prices to farmers who deliver high quality products.
Through cooperatives, farmers often are able to provide
themselves with better service than they were receiving
from other agencies. Successful cooperatives save money
for their members, giving service at cost. By reducing
the cost of getting goods from the producer to the con-
sumer, cooperatives encourage consumption and expand
markets Working together for mutual helpfulness makes
a better citizenship.
 3. Q. WHO MAY ORGANIZE A COOPERATIVE