Today, Tuesday, March 8, is the start of all-day floor debate and with just 22 days left to finish general and select file debate senators have a lot to discuss. Around 90 priority bills are out of committee and it is unclear if all of them will get time on the floor this year.

What do we think of when we say cooperative? Is it the farmers’ co-op down the road, combining grains to sell? Is it a nearby co-op grocer with customer members? Is it a large company, maybe Land O’Lakes or Ocean Spray?

Rural communities often face challenges in accessing fresh, healthy, and affordable foods. Reducing food deserts, connecting farmers to consumers, and building local supply chains provides resilience our rural communities need to protect their future.