The Devcor Farmer-Consumer Food Cooperative

Enlarge Image Image Gallery A serious attack on the high cost of food, land and money is being made by a group of School of Living members. Don Newey, a member of the board, has formed an organization to establish a series of farmer-consumer cooperatives based on the principles he's developed for egg buying co-ops in various cities. FOTOLIA/LYNNEALBRIGHT

Reprinted from Green Revolution.

Food cooperatives. . . and for the folks who want to see a thousand co-ops blossom, or who want to set up a homestead, raise organically grown food and be assured of a market, here's news of . . .

A serious attack on the high cost of food, land and money is being made by a group of School of Living members. Don Newey, a member of the board, has formed an organization to establish a series of farmer-consumer food cooperatives based on the principles he's developed for egg buying co-ops in various cities.

The consumer end of the operation is simple. Anybody who is interested can start a buying club and arrange to purchase food direct from the producers at substantially reduced prices. Most buying clubs start with a single item of produce and gradually expand as their organization and understanding of the operation grows. It will be possible to commence operations with more than one product now because of the new organization which can arrange all the needed paperwork and other details.

This new organization, called Devcor, is a part of the International Independence Institute. During 1970, Devcor will be able to offer at least the following products: apples, peaches, oranges, eggs and some vegetables.

Consumer Food Cooperative Basics

The buying clubs will take orders for the produce at prearranged prices and collect money for the shipments. There will also be a service charge to cover the cost of delivery and administration, and each member of the buying club will be required to subscribe an additional 10% of the produce price as a capital contribution.

For example, apples are $3.00 per bushel at the orchard. The buyer wishes to have one bushel. There is a service charge of $.50 for delivery and administration. The savings investment will be $.30. This makes a total price of $3.80 per bushel.

The basic $3.00 will be paid with the order, the service charge will be due on delivery and the savings investment will be paid with the next order. At present in the Baltimore area apples are selling at about $.12 per pound. On a forty-five pound bushel this amounts to $5.40. Thus the total saving, including investment, would be approximately $1.90.