Cooperative identity, values

A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their everyday economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Thus, it’s a business. It’s about working together as a team. It’s about democratic decision-making. It’s about the ethical, open, and honest enterprise.

A cooperative is just like other businesses. They offer products and services just like other forms of business enterprise do. It’s what goes on within the businesses that makes cooperatives different.

The members of a cooperative do not only benefit from the work produced. The members of a coop are also its owners and participate in the cooperatives and decision-making process.