[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Co-op FAQ” text_orientation=”center” content_max_width=”none” disabled_on=”on||” admin_label=”Header Image” module_class=”header-image” _builder_version=”3.16″ background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”https:\/\/www.deeprootorganic.coop\/deeproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/LAbri-Cornicopia.jpg” background_url=”https:\/\/www.deeprootorganic.coop\/deeproot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/LAbri-Cornicopia.jpg” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.11.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”|-16px||-20px||” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n Cooperatives provide small producers the opportunity to enter larger markets by aggregating and distributing the product of multiple small growers under the unified banner of a single organization. The co-op allows smaller family farms to remain viable by giving them access to markets that they would otherwise be unable to serve on their own. Additionally, the co-op allows growers to share the costs of transportation and administrative duties. Due to the extensive geographical range of our member farms we are able to produce a wide variety of produce throughout the year.<\/span><\/p>\n Deep Root was founded to extend the reach of farmers in Vermont and New England.\u00a0 Instead of competing with each other in local markets, they use Deep Root to funnel their high volume crops out of state to other parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic, and occasionally further down the East Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n Deep Root doesn\u2019t operate like a traditional distributor.\u00a0 We do not own any of the crops we ship, and do not maintain an inventory at our headquarters in Johnson, Vermont.\u00a0 Rather, we aggregate product on a weekly basis from our growers based on their availability, send out pricelists to our customers, process orders, and then ship out the product with a quick turnaround\u2013usually 1-3 days between pickup and delivery.\u00a0 Our growers maintain their own inventory and pack out produce to order, ensuring high quality and freshness.<\/span><\/p>\n Deep Root is comprised of 20 member-growers, made up of farms of various sizes throughout Vermont and Southern Quebec.\u00a0 Our organizational resilience comes from our diversity of farms and their geographic locations. Some members ship year-round, and others ship certain crops at certain times of the year.\u00a0 Deep Root is flexible in how it works with members and what place our distribution has for their businesses.\u00a0 Some members only ship a small percentage of their overall sales through Deep Root, and others ship 70-80% of their total sales with us.<\/span><\/p>\n The co-op makes its income through case fees on each item shipped and a sales commission.\u00a0 We also have annual membership fees and equity fees like many other co-ops.\u00a0 We operate as a not-for-profit, and any net income at the end of the financial year is distributed back to the growers.<\/span><\/p>\n We are always looking for new members, and we even work with non-members on occasion to fill specific crop gaps.\u00a0 If you are interested in working with Deep Root, see the <\/span>Contact Us page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy a co-op?<\/span><\/h2>\n
How Deep Root operates<\/span><\/h2>\n