Producer organizations like Meadowbrook Farms are taking the lead in building modern processing facilities by reshaping the cooperative approach.
Farmer cooperatives were part of the food business long before processed foods had brand names, but by the late 20th century, their members tended to be marginalized commodity suppliers. A value-added business model was needed if small co-ops and their members were to survive. Belleville, IL-based Meadowbrook Farms management believes it has crafted one of these models.