Marketing Contract . --The cooperative has no marketing contract with its 

 members. Consequently the amount and percentage of produce marketed 

 through the co-op varies considerably among the membership. 



Financing . --Methods of financing that have been used include equity 

 certificates, capital surplus and loans through the Springfield Bank 

 for Cooperatives. 



Board and Management . --The business of the association is controlled by 

 a board of directors consisting of nine representatives elected for 

 3 years on a staggered basis so that three new members are elected each 

 year. 



The president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of the association 

 are elected from members of the board. 



The board is responsible for hiring a general manager to implement their 

 policies through day to day decisions. 



Employees . --Full-time employees include a general manager, a bookkeeper, 

 and a warehouseman. Approximately 12 to 15 part-time employees are 

 hired to pack sweet potatoes and cucumbers. 



Policies . --Current policies of the cooperative are to develop sales to 

 local brokers, handle production and marketing supplies, and perform 

 grading, packing, and storage services. The obiective is to perform 

 these services for members on the basis of competitive prices. 



Operations 



The operations of the co-op are divided into marketing, packing and 

 storage, and purchasing departments. These departments are handled by 

 the general manager and his bookkeeper at a central office in Landisville, 

 Records for each department are separately maintained for accounting 

 purposes and to better appraise operational results. 



Major crops handled are peppers, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, and egg- 

 plants. Other crops include tomatoes, escarole and endive, beets, onions, 

 spinach, broccoli, and strawberries. .- . 



Services Provided Members . --In addition to selling its members' produce, 

 the co-op grades and packs their sweet potatoes, peppers, and cucumbers 

 and has storage facilities for sweet potatoes. Supplies handled for 

 members include containers, fertilizers, chemicals, and seeds. 



When necessary, members are extended credit up to 20 percent of their 

 previous year's sales. 



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