AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES IN HORTICULTURE VALUE CHAIN
Abstract
Based on activity type, national conditions and other factors, different types of cooperatives may be founded and their goals and functions may deffere respectively. The International Cooperative Alliance describes the cooperative as follows: "A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democraticallycontrolled enterprise." Cooperatives are businesses owned and run by and for their members. Whether the members are the customers, employees or residents they have an equal say in what the business does and a share in the profits. As businesses driven by values not just profit, cooperatives share internationally agreed principles and act together to build a better world through cooperation. Cooperatives were useful for promoting the interests of the less powerful members of society. Farmers, producers, workers, and consumers found that they could accomplish more collectively than they could individually.