Cooperatives

Powderhorn, Cedar-Lake Co-op, Seward Co-op.
~Bette deFiebre, MN

Alternative method of buying in bulk, cut out grocery stores, sold organics and local products.
~Bette deFiebre, Minneapolis, MN

The number of and the variety of types of co-ops have been a lasting influence on the way Minnesotans think and react to problems, i.e., local groups of people working together to solve problems.
~Mary Alice Harvey, Duluth, MN

First Cooperative in U.S. More retirement housing for seniors. A new system of living for oldsters.
~Yvonne Youker, New Brighton, MN

Originating among blacklisted Finnish mine workers on the Iron Range at the beginning of the last century, the Minnesota co-op movement spread quickly to other constituencies. The principle of worker ownership of capital resources such as grain elevators, and consumer ownership of services such as farm stores, filling stations, and grocery stores found adherents all over the northern plains, and as far as California and the Pacific Northwest. The original co-op brand, Twin Pines originally, Red Star is still seen, as is its descendent, CENEX. A later generation picked up the co-op torch in 1970 and - with North Country Co-op in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, started a new wave of co-operative organizing around the nation. Soon there were neighborhood co-ops all over the Twin Cities. These co-ops formed their own co-ops for supply and distribution. The principles of consumer ownership, worker control, and healthy, natural and organic foods has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. It all began in Minneapolis.
~William Teska, Minneapolis, MN

While most people do not realize it, Minneosta has more coops than any state other than California--probably the most per capita. A good choice might be the creation of the Clarks Grove Coop Creamery that was established in 1890, mostly by Danish immigrants. Farmers were the driving force behind collective economic actions but urban workers and others participated. There were coop groceries, oil and gas stations and a variety of other efforts. "
~Steve Trimble, St. Paul, MN