California Cooperative Origins

California farmers turned to cooperatives in the late 1800s to help serve their needs in the production, harvesting and marketing of livestock and crops. Among the first formed was the California Wool Growers Association in 1860. A few years later (1893) the Southern California Fruit Exchange, forerunner of the present Sunkist growers, came into being. The Exchange served as the prototype in the early 1900s for the formation a number of farmer-owned marketing cooperatives organized for the purpose of providing a large number of individual farmers with the united economic power needed to competitively survive and bargain. Today California farmer co-ops are involved in virtually every facet of agriculture.

During the early 1900s many other types of cooperatives began serving California's community needs. In the remote parts of the state Rural Electric Cooperatives began to serve areas unable to obtain electric service from other sources. Student housing, food, parent and worker cooperatives also began forming. For example the Childrens Community in Berkeley was formed as a parent cooperative in 1929.

California cooperatives continue to empower people to help themselves. They offer an opportunity to obtain goods and services at a lower cost and to market with a greater share going to the seller. As our economy becomes more global, people will increasingly be interested in having more voice in things they need for survival. As in the past, future cooperative entities will demonstrate the importance of strength in unity.

Cooperative entities work. We hope that the information included in this site will assist those interested in exploring this avenue of self help.