What Is a Co-op?

A cooperative (or co-op) is a type of business owned by and operated for the benefit of those who use its services.

A number of producer-owned cooperatives are familiar to millions of American consumers. Land O’Lakes, Inc., Ocean Spray, Welch’s and Sunkist, among others, all are examples of cooperatives that market products made from the milk, cranberries, grapes, oranges and other raw materials supplied by their producer-members. These co-ops are often referred to as “producer cooperatives.”

“Consumer cooperatives” sell products to their co-op members. Land O’Lakes, Inc., while primarily known as a producer cooperative to the majority of Americans because of our famous line of dairy products, also serves as a consumer co-op, distributing feed, seed, agronomy products and business and production services to agricultural services through a national network of independently-owned and operated local farm cooperatives.

The Idea Co-op

Here, “cooperative” describes more than our business model. For our members, it defines a way of life. Each day, in the fields, in the dairy barns and at local cooperatives across the country, we’re working together to create and share ideas.

It’s not just about ideas that grow grains, protect crops or produce award-winning dairy products. It’s about ideas that perform—ideas that set industry standards and increase sustainability. It’s our ability to exchange and implement these ideas that drives our success.