AGSOURCE CELEBRATES CO-OP MONTH

VERONA, Wis. -   Each October, cooperatives across America celebrate the role, accomplishments and contributions of our nation's cooperatives.  During the month, cooperatives from all sectors take the opportunity to share the message on how the cooperative business model is used to meet the needs of today's marketplace.

Wisconsin cooperatives have a special commitment to helping their members and their communities adapt to the times, according to Pete Giacomini, Chief Operating Officer of AgSource.  That's because cooperatives, unlike many businesses, are locally owned and operated. And that's why cooperatives throughout the nation will be taking time during the month of October to promote a better public understanding of this unique form of business.
Giacomini explained that AgSource has been serving dairy farmers throughout Wisconsin for more than 50 years. He added that AgSource has grown to serve DHI members across the country and has diversified its agricultural testing offerings to include agronomic, food, and environmental testing.    

A single Midwestern family may belong to a dairy marketing cooperative, a farm supply co-op, an electric cooperative, a telephone cooperative, and co-ops for food, health, A.I. supplies, and DHI services. The family may buy Ocean Spray cranberry juice, Sun Maid raisins, and Land O'Lakes butter; purchase tools at ACE Hardware; have its accounts at a credit union; be insured through a mutual insurance company; and hear the news through Associated Press. All are cooperatively owned businesses

AgSource, headquartered in Verona, Wis., is a subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International and a member-owned cooperative that provides agricultural and environmental laboratory analysis and management information services to members and clients from North America and overseas from eight locations in the Midwest and Northwest.