Agway Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., the largest agricultural cooperative in
the United States, is also one of the more complex in organization, struc-
ture, and junctions. It is a conglomerate of products in farm supplies,
marketing, and related services. Organization and structural arrange-
ments encompass direct farmer members, local cooperative members,
retail outlets, wholly owned subsidiaries, and joint ventures with cooper-
atives and other firms.
CONTENTS
MARKETING COOPERATIVES ...........................
1
Basic Objectives ...................................... 1
Early Activities in Cooperative Marketing ................. 2
Current Position ......................................4
Principal Types .......................................6
Membership and Control ...............................8
Marketing Practices ...................................10
Operating Policies ....................................13
Vertical Integrated Functions .......................... .15
Related Services ......................................20
Financing and Taxation ................................20
Benefits
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..2 3
Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..2 5
Basic Alternatives .....................................27
PURCHASING COOPERATIVES ......................... .29
Basic Objectives ......................................29
Early Activities in Cooperative Purchasing ............... .29
Current Position ......................................32
Membership and Control ...............................33
PrincipalTypes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 5
Operating Practices ...................................38
Operating Policies ....................................4 1
Vertical Integrated Functions ...........................43
Related Services ......................................47
Marketing Operations ..................................48
Financing and Taxa