Many people think of a co- op as one of the agricultural cooperatives that have been a staple of rural life in the Upper Midwest since the mid-1800s or as one of the community grocery stores that combine organic food and social awareness.
But cooperative businesses encompass far more than grain and granola, and interest is growing, experts in the field agree.
“There are a lot of people who are beginning to think about business in different ways. They hear about the co- op model, and it appeals to them,” said Anne Reynolds, assistant director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives.