A FARMERS COMMERCIAL COOPERATIVE ENERGIZED BY SOCIAL PARTICIPATION IN THE ENTERPRISE

DEPRESSED HISPANIC FARMERS IN THE REDFORD VALLEY HAVE FORMEDA COOPERATIVE TO PRODUCE GOAT MILK TO FABRICATE SPECIALTY CHEESES IN A PRODUCER-OWNED FACILITY. DAIRY HUSBANDRY/TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN A MODEL HERD AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER. A MARKETING PLAN IS IN PLACE TO TEST CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT CHEESES AND TO SUPPLY OUTLETS WHEN FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION HASBEGUN. COOP MEMBERS WILL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF CROSS-BREEDING AND LINE-BREEDING TO BUILD FAMILY HERDS ADAPTED TO THE CLIMATE. UTILIZING THE SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNIQUE OF PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, THE INITIAL PHASES OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE STUDIED AND EVALUATED TO ACHIEVE: 1) A CLARIFICATION AND OBJECTIFICATION OF SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES THAT CAN ENHANCE THE SUCCESS OF THIS SPECIFIC ENTERPRISE AND CAN BE DUPLICATED IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS AND AMONG OTHER NEEDY POPULATIONS; 2) IDENTIFICATION OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM OPERATION OF COOPERATIVES. THESE COULDINCLUDE SUCH TOPICS AS SUSTAINING A PARTICIPATIVE ORGANIZATION BEYOND PHASE I, BUILDING LOCAL AND LONG-RANGE NETWORKS FOR INFORMATION SHARING, CONTINUING EDUCATION, OWNERSHIP IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, PEER REVIEW AND OTHER DIMENSIONS.