Celebrating America, Celebrating Cooperatives

Members of the Freedom Quilting Bee courtesy of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF

As America marks its 250^th anniversary, it is worth reflecting on one of the country’s oldest traditions: people coming together to solve problems through cooperation. 

Well before signing the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin launched the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Housing from Loss by Fire in 1752, an early mutual insurance company that is still operating today.

Cooperatives – businesses that are owned and democratically governed by the people who use them – have been woven into the fabric of our country ever since, allowing people to meet their own needs when markets fail to do so. Their “one member, one vote” approach to cooperative governance reflects and reinforces our nation’s democratic ideals.

American agricultural cooperatives first emerged in the early 1800s; today, the products of large agricultural co-ops – Land O’ Lakes, Ocean Spray, Blue Diamond, Organic Valley, and more – are household staples. Cooperative agriculture has also been a source of strength and resilience for historically marginalized communities, from Fannie Lou Hamer’s Freedom Farm Cooperative to Indigenous co-ops that help preserve traditional crops, farming practices, language, and cultural traditions.

Food cooperatives first took root in the U.S. in the mid- to late 1800s, helping families afford groceries and ensuring access to healthy food. That tradition continued as communities adapted the cooperative model to meet local needs. In 1947, Alaska Native leaders formed the Alaska Native Industries Cooperative Association (ANICA) so remote villages could keep local stores stocked with food and other essential goods. Beginning in the 1970s, the second wave of food co-ops expanded access to organic, natural, and fair-trade foods long before these products became mainstream.

American worker co-ops grew alongside the labor movement towards the end of the 19^th century, providing good jobs and community control in response to unsafe working conditions, economic disinvestment, and racial discrimination. One inspiring example is the Freedom Quilting Bee, a Black women-owned quilting co-op that created economic opportunity in the segregated South. In the past decade, worker co-ops have seen a surge in interest, tripling in number as communities and funders recognize the value of giving more people an ownership stake in the economy.

Cooperative traditions have also helped expand financial security and homeownership. Informal savings circles rooted in West African susu traditions enabled Black Americans to pool resources during times when access to financial institutions was systematically denied. In the early twentieth century, credit unions and housing cooperatives opened new pathways to affordable financial services and resident-controlled housing. Today, more than 143 million Americans belong to credit unions, while housing cooperatives continue to provide stable, affordable options for home ownership across the country.

Rural electric cooperatives transformed rural America by bringing electricity to communities that were left behind by investor-owned utility companies.  Today, they continue to serve as essential infrastructure, expanding broadband access, deploying climate-smart energy technologies, and maintaining local control and accountability.

There is hardly a corner of America that has not been shaped by the cooperative model. More than 64,000 cooperatives serve Americans every day—helping people grow food, build businesses, access affordable housing, save for the future, receive health care, generate electricity, and strengthen their communities.

It is fitting that the International Day of Co-operatives also falls on July 4. This year's theme, "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World," reminds us that democracy is not only expressed at the ballot box, but also practiced in the places we live, work, and shop.

If we have one wish as we celebrate America’s birthday, it is for a future where all people in our nation can address their needs, pursue their aspirations, build shared wealth, and thrive in community. That vision has inspired and guided cooperatives for generations and remains the Cooperative Development Foundation’s north star.

As we have seen throughout history, we are stronger together. Join us this October as we honor cooperative heroes like Fannie Lou Hamer and current leaders in agriculture, credit unions, and cooperative development as they take their place alongside Benjamin Franklin in the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Sign up for our email alerts to stay informed about grant and fellowship opportunities. Finally, we invite you to bring forward your ideas so, together, we can ensure the next chapter of this American story is cooperative.

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