Mississippi Association of Cooperatives P.O. Box 22786 Jackson, MS 39205 Contact: Daisy Garrett ph: 601-354-2750; email: dollygarrett@earthlink.net

The Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MAC), in Jackson, MS, has worked for 25 years to bring together and enhance the work of a network of primarily African-American producer cooperatives and credit unions.

The Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MAC) is a state association of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF). Established in 1972 to serve limited resource and minority cooperatives throughout the state, MAC is also the parent organization of the Mississippi Center for Cooperative Development, chartered in 1997 to allow MAC to expand education, training and technical assistance to participating cooperatives.

There are currently thirteen community-based organizations within MAC across the state: nine cooperatives, two credit unions and two associate organizations. They all operate according to democratic principles and utilize a diversity of production and marketing strategies. Prominent crops include sweet potatoes, okra, peas, kale, watermelon and a variety of herbs. Marketing outlets for these crops include home delivery, farm stands, rural and urban farmers markets (many of which participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program), food distributors and grocery stores. These cooperatives also work with partners in surrounding states to market their produce in major metropolitan areas, including Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and New Orleans.

Several of the MAC member cooperatives operate programs aimed at teaching responsibility and useful skills to local youth. Besides helping them to build a brighter future for themselves as individuals, these projects also allow youth to make a positive contribution to their local community, including the food system. Activities undertaken by youth programs include planting, maintaining, harvesting and marketing vegetables. Youth often volunteer time at their farmers market, and they participate in various camps and conferences.

Visit a member of MAC, the Mileston Cooperative in Tchula, Mississippi.

A project of The Rural Coalition
1012 14th Street Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone (202) 628-7160   Fax 202/628-7165
Toll Free 1-866-RURAL-80