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A FARMERS COMMERCIAL COOPERATIVE ENERGIZED BY SOCIAL PARTICIPATION IN THE ENTERPRISE

Award Information
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 14772
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1991
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
General Delivery
Redford, TX 79840
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 George K Floro
 () -
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DEPRESSED HISPANIC FARMERS IN THE REDFORD VALLEY HAVE FORMEDA COOPERATIVE TO PRODUCE GOAT MILK TO FABRICATE SPECIALTY CHEESES IN A PRODUCER-OWNED FACILITY. DAIRY HUSBANDRY/TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN A MODEL HERD AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER. A MARKETING PLAN IS IN PLACE TO TEST CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT CHEESES AND TO SUPPLY OUTLETS WHEN FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION HASBEGUN. COOP MEMBERS WILL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF CROSS-BREEDING AND LINE-BREEDING TO BUILD FAMILY HERDS ADAPTED TO THE CLIMATE. UTILIZING THE SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNIQUE OF PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, THE INITIAL PHASES OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE STUDIED AND EVALUATED TO ACHIEVE: 1) A CLARIFICATION AND OBJECTIFICATION OF SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES THAT CAN ENHANCE THE SUCCESS OF THIS SPECIFIC ENTERPRISE AND CAN BE DUPLICATED IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS AND AMONG OTHER NEEDY POPULATIONS; 2) IDENTIFICATION OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM OPERATION OF COOPERATIVES. THESE COULDINCLUDE SUCH TOPICS AS SUSTAINING A PARTICIPATIVE ORGANIZATION BEYOND PHASE I, BUILDING LOCAL AND LONG-RANGE NETWORKS FOR INFORMATION SHARING, CONTINUING EDUCATION, OWNERSHIP IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, PEER REVIEW AND OTHER DIMENSIONS.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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