rbs research report 210 smal scale grower coperatives in the northeast united states a study of organizational characteristics manager member and director attitudes potential for improving regional inter cooperative collaboration department agriculture b s t r c between 1999 2001 managers directors members 25 small fruit vegetable cooperatives annual gross sales 10m or less were surveyed to learn about their man agement strategies impacts on results show critical importance farms families as well reveal fragility vulnerability among important challenges identified are general lack stability underdeveloped business management skills maintaining commitment however many respondents interested working together better industry areas such activities key words fruits vegetables statistics issues federation
