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This opportunity for help may be of interest to any growers interested in starting a marketing coop. This program I is offered through MSU product center, there to help you check out our business dream and make it happen. Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Specialist C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems CARRS Departent of Community, Agriclture, Recreation and Resource Studies 303 Natural Resources Bldg Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 Phone: 517-353-3542 Cell: 517-282-3557 FAX 517-353-3834 E-Mail: [log in to unmask] Don't forget! A carrot a day may keep the doctor away but an ORGANIC carrot a day, grown locally will taste good, support your farmer neighbor AND may keep the doctor away!!! ________________________________ From: Barb Fails [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 2:30 PM To: Patrick John Oconnor; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Peter Achuonjei; Marty Heller; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Susan Cocciarelli; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Vicki Morrone; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Subject: MSU Product Center helps form Cooperatives Dear Road to Independence participant: You may be interested in this business opportunity. The MSU Product Center is now offering free business counseling services to form a cooperative, and, as part of a USDA rural development grant, we have funding available to help you get started. Want to learn more? Attend one of these workshops. A complete brochure is attached. You can register online, by email, or by phone. Your registration is covered by the grant. Feb. 21 in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant Feb. 23 in Grand Rapids at the Holiday Inn Select Feb. 28 in Gaylord at the University Center Groups that may want to explore the benefits of marketing products/services as a cooperative include: -farm marketers within the same community -small, independent retailers; artisans, bakers, prepared foods, wool fibers -rural residents looking for new housing -commodity producers not already organized as a co-op -specialty producers; meats, alpaca or emu, organic vegetables, herbs, bee-keepers The primary advantages of the cooperative business model are that small businesses 1) find market strength in collaborating on a single brand and pooling supply year round, and 2) potentially save money by group-buying of commonly needed supplies or products, even fuels. -Barb Barb Fails, Assistant Director MSU Product Center 82 Agriculture, East Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 432-3287 www.aec.msu.edu/product/