The Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative is a new farmer-owned co-op pioneering the commercialization of Kernza, a new perennial grain crop that can improve water quality. The co-op was recently awarded a $50,000 Matching Equity grant from CoBank; CDS was the…

CDS will support the White Earth Food Sovereignty Council in assessing the potential for a cooperative food retail venue and community kitchen, aimed at increasing access to healthy, local and traditionally Native foods. The project, which kicks off December 1,…

Two CDS board members spoke in September at the Minnesota Statewide Managers Association Meeting, a gathering of the state’s agricultural farm supply cooperatives, sponsored by CHS, Land O’Lakes, CoBank and other notable agricultural organizations. The meeting brings together respective leaders…

 “This session was a painful reminder of how government policies and persistent racism have deprived whole communities of their capacity to care for themselves. But the work of these two leaders also provided hope for how self-help and cooperation can be…

CDS continues to support t a variety of cooperative sectors through our grant writing services, most recently Minnesota’s agricultural farm supply co-ops. CDS succeeded in helping three new farm supply clients compete in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Biofuels Infrastructure…

CDS was awarded a contract to provide development support through the City of Minneapolis’ Cooperative Technical Assistance Program in 2022-23. This program offers a free co-op feasibility training for both new cooperatives and existing businesses interested in converting into a…