Episode 7: What’s at the heart of a community co-operative? Kerry Murphy knows, after 33 years in the job

Meet the Co-op Farmers

From the end of tobacco farming to innovative reinvention, the Tobacco & Associated Farmers Co-operative Organisation (TAFCO) has seen huge change over the years. When TAFCO started off 32 years ago they never thought they face the reality of an end of tobacco growing. But as always when facing adversity, they pivoted and reinvented themselves. Today this successful co-op has more than 620 members and is the very heart of their community.

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Episode Notes:

Victoria’s influential, award-winning and profitable rural supplies co-operative TAFCO, managed to reinvent itself to continue to benefit members after the decline of the tobacco industry. Today, they supply retail goods and farming services to a range of retail customers including primary producers, hobby farmers, tradespeople and townsfolk, and have a gross annual revenue of $7 million, providing a dividend to its 620 members who are primarily farmers. Kerry Murphy was fundamental in launching and growing the Myrtleford Farmers Markets and has helped source funds for other local economic development initiatives, such as the free delivery service to farms. Hear about how she makes it all work when she talks to Pete Lewis. How do they work to attract and engage farmers? How do they attract loyal customers and retain community support? How do they work together?

In this fascinating podcast series, you will hear from real farmers who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences, you will learn how this positive farming model changes lives.

Links & Resources:

• Listen to all podcasts – https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/
• Watch Peter Lewis interview Kerry Murphy https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-1-interview/
• Watch Pete Lewis discuss how buying together works to benefit members and communities. Featuring Kerry Murphy (TAFCO), Dr George Ujvary (Master Butchers Co-operative), Donna Avery (Yolla Producers Co-operative Society) and Anthony Nehme (Yenda Producers Co-operative) https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-2-roundtable/
• Want to find out more about TAFCO https://www.tafco.com.au/
• Find out more about co-op farming – https://coopfarming.coop/
• Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers Podcast team: https://coopfarming.coop/contact/

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