<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://www.energybulletin.net/sites/default/files/images/LDLS_Final-682x1024.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail" width="67" height="100" /></span>An underappreciated characteristic of co-ops is that nearly all of them fit our definition of locally owned—that is, probably 99.9 percent are connected to a particular place and owned by geographically proximate members. Even large co-ops that sprawl across the country have many of the characteristics of local businesses. National producers co-ops, like Land O’Lakes and Organic Valley, represent small farmers around the country who are eager to sell, process, and distribute their products regionally. Adam Schwartz, vice president for public affairs and member services for the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA), says, “No matter how large a cooperative is, because it is owned by the individual farmers or individual consumers or small businesses, I feel very comfortable making a case that co-ops in any form support local business.”</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div><p><a href="http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-04-27/hidden-power-coops">read more</a></p>