CHAPTER XVIII 

 CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS 



238. History. Co-operative associations among com- 

 mercial vegetable growers have been developed mainly 

 within the past 15 years, for with the rapid extension 

 of the gardening industry co-operation has become a 

 necessity. In many instances they were organized for 

 the protection of the members against excessive trans- 

 portation rates and unscrupulous commission merchants, 

 but now the scope has broadened until every phase of 

 marketing is controlled by most of the organizations, and 

 many have taken up other lines of work important to 

 producers. 



239. Objects. The objects of the various associations 

 vary considerably, but as a rule the specific purpose is 

 co-operation in buying and selling, although the work is 

 generally more comprehensive. The constitution of a 

 large and highly successful organization contains the fol- 

 lowing: "Section I. Its object shall be the buying, sell- 

 ing and handling of produce, the selling and consigning 

 of produce as agent of the purchaser, the inspection of all 

 produce so sold or consigned, and the owning or operat- 

 ing of storage warehouses and packing houses for prod- 

 uce, and generally to deal in all such materials, articles, 

 or goods as in the opinion of the board of directors can be 

 conveniently and advantageously dealt in by the corpora- 

 tion." 



240. Character of organizations. Co-operative associa- 

 tions have been formed for the benefit of all classes of 

 producers. There are many organizations of greenhouse 

 growers. General truckers in various sections, especially 

 southward, are well organized. Growers of special crops 



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