ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I argue that farmer-owned cooperatives have gone through major restructuring processes during the past 15–20 years. These changes may relate directly to the need for cooperatives to become more market-oriented. Increased attention to the demands of consumers and retailers has led to strategic reorientation, as well as organisational restructuring. As a result, the relationship between farmers and the marketing/processing cooperative has been re-engineered. In addition, new types of producer-owned firms have been established in north-western Europe. I will in this chapter describe the role of producer-owned cooperatives in marketing farm products; suggest several propositions about the relationship between market orientation and restructuring of cooperative firms; present detailed information about restructuring processes among agricultural cooperatives; and conclude that both restructured cooperatives and new producer organisations are suitable and viable business forms for marketing agricultural products.
