"A Co-operative is an autonomous association of individuals voluntarily united to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs through a jointly-owned and democratically- controlled enterprise ." ~ International Co-operative Alliance, 1996

A co-operative is a type of business which is owned and democratically controlled by its members-the people who use and benefit from the services provided by the business.Virtually any type of business can be organized as a co-operative. Indeed, co-operatives operate in almosteverysectorofBritish Columbia's

economy, including financial, retail, housing, forestry, fisheries and agriculture. All are owned and controlled by the people who use and benefit from the services provided by the co-operative.

Agricultural co-operatives are owned and controlled by the producers who purchase goods and services from, or deliver raw commodities to, the co-operative. Co-operatives provide groups of producers with the opportunity to own and control businesses related to their farming operations, enabling them to address common problems or develop market opportunities.