Before the Bricks and Mortar: A Case Study of a New Generation Cooperative’s Planning Process

To generate additional income for their members, many cooperatives consider forward integrating into processing activities. However, many market, industry, and economic issues must be considered before choosing a value-added processing activity to pursue. Gathering the necessary information to evaluate various processing opportunities is a considerable undertaking and may require the expertise of university personnel, economic development specialists, and possibly professional consultants. Using an Oklahoma new generation cooperative case study, this paper outlines a market assessment process for value-added ventures.