Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Founded in 1947, University Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full service financial institution, owned by its members and operated exclusively for their benefit, with over $170 million in assets, over 22,500 members and 78 full time employees. Read more about University Credit Union...

Founded in 1945 to ensure dependable sources of products, the Co-op has 57 member cooperatives, with 150 Co-op retail outlets in 83 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. TFC is a federated cooperative system, which means a pyramid of ownership. The farmer members own their local Co-ops and the local Co-ops own TFC. Co-ops offer career training, internships, and 32 yearly scholarships to agricultural students as well as providing farming products and information to its members. Read more about Tennessee Farmers Cooperative...

Good Natured Family Farms (GNFF) is a co-op comprised of over 100 Kansas City-area family farms with a mission to practicing sustainable farming and humane treatment of animals. Their products are distributed to local supermarkets. GNFF is a brand owned by the All-Natural Beef Co-op, which consists of 18 farmers. As of 2008, GNFF's meat processing plant had annual sales revenues of $3 million with 6 employees and plant operation costs of $300,000. GNFF also supplies the $110 million revenue-generating Bistro Kids, a food services company serving private schools in Kansas City. Read more about Good Natured Family Farms...

Starting as an idea by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram in September 2007, the Rawfully Organic Co-op has grown exponentially to more than 3,500 families today. The co-op is dedicated to providing only fresh fruits and vegetables from local, organic farmers and aims to increase awareness about health and environmental issues to all who are involved. Members can purchase half or full-shares (plus extras if desired) and pick up their produce from a different location in Houston on three days during the week or from neighborhood pick-up spots on Thursdays. Read more about Rawfully Organic Co-op...

The Patient Physician Cooperative was established in 2005 in Houston as a non-profit with the goal of providing affordable primary to care to persons who need it. Starting as an organization of patients, physicians, and member representatives with just two clinics, the cooperative has grown to 36 clinics across the city. Now members are eligible for true group coverage as an optional benefit at one price, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions or other restrictions. Read more about Patient Physician Cooperative...

Established in 1971, the Durham Food Co-op has served for over 35 years as a natural foods cooperative for the Durham community, operating under the principle of “food for people, not for profit.” The co-op has sales of roughly $500,000 a year and publishes a weekly community newsletter, Food for Thought. Read more about Durham Food Co-op...

Co-op Optical is the largest not-for-profit provider of vision care services in the state of Michigan. Formed in 1960, they pioneered prepaid vision programs in Michigan. As a cooperative, the group contributes to health care cost containment in eye care by providing funded program coverage at reasonable rates. Read more about Cooperative Optical Services, Inc....

The Third Hand Bicycle Co-op was founded in 2003 to advocate a sustainable method of transportation and provide the community with a facility and tools for their bicycles. They have over 24,000 registered members on their discussion forum. Read more about Third Hand Bicycle...

The Clintonville Community Market, founded in 1998, is a member-owned grocery store that provides sustainable, natural and local products. All, but five, of its vendors are from Columbus or neighboring cities in Ohio. With estimated annual revenue of $2.5 to $5 million, the Market employs a staff of approximately 20 people. Read more about Clintonville Community Market...