Owning the Cooperative Identity: USDA Celebrates National Cooperatives Month

In October, USDA celebrates National Cooperative Month, highlighting the cooperative model as a form of organization that promotes self-help, solidarity, and community development. It emphasizes how cooperatives benefit members, provide economic resilience, and foster unique democratic values. USDA also offers resources and support for communities, including youth and rural groups, to start, sustain, or convert businesses into cooperatives, thus strengthening local participation and capacities.