PURPOSE AND PROFESSIONAL ETHIC

Here are some of the goals stated in the Social Statutes of the cooperative:

“  Art. 3  SOCIAL AIMS.  The cooperative is held together by the principles of mutual aid and not by those of private profiteering.  The aim is to constantly improve and make the most of the products that our affiliates confer to the cooperative.  In particular, we propose the following goals:

1.       Agriculture:  to favour the development of organic agriculture in its various forms.

2.       Nutrition:  to promote the production and consumption of high quality foods which promote good health.

3.       Environment:  to favour environmental harmony, vitality and embellishment as well as the protection, worth and growth of our natural resources.

4.       Employment:  to favour permanent employment through the creation of economic activities in agricultural and related fields.

5.       Work Quality:  to work creatively in a responsible and productive fashion which values both individual capabilities and collaborative ventures.

6.       Social Structure:  to directly connect the producer with the consumer and coordinate and balance our production with the needs of consumption.  To promote collaboration, comprehension and dialogue between those who work within the economic structure (producers, distributors, consumers and various types of employees).  To be clear with our economic relationships by looking for the best prices possible for our products in all stages.  To combat against social marginalization.

7.       Spiritual Quest:  To undergo a spiritual search into all of the inherent aspects of the work which we carry out (nature, agriculture, processing, commerce, social relationships and relationships with machines and animals).  To deepen and improve oneself in the various aspects and problems of one’s work.   To favour those practices which stimulate spirituality instead of stifling them.

8.       Fulfillment of values:  To practice the highest moral aspirations connected with the universal values of truth, love, harmony, freedom, brotherhood, justice, peace and happiness.

9.       Connections:  To organize and exchange productive experiences similar to the ones mentioned above, and promote the birth of new experiences and situations which meet these ends.

The Cooperative also works to strengthen the Italian Cooperative Movement.”

OTHER AIMS:   

We are currently pursuing other directions besides those mentioned in the statute above.  These relate to the cultural, ecological and social debates of the last decade.

·          The cooperative intends to contribute and work for the following important themes:

·          Protection of the planet’s ecology.

·          Defense of the biodiversity of living organisms.

·          Natural evolution of living species as opposed to genetic manipulation.

·          Overcome the imbalance between developed and underdeveloped countries.

·          A commerce of equality and solidarity to combat the exploitation of disadvantaged populations.

·          PROFESSIONAL ETHIC

·          Due to structural characteristics and social involvement, the cooperative can be considered an important ethical entity.

·          The agricultural members are, for the most part, small producers that benefit from a cooperative structure.  They also participate in its management by being apart of the board of directors and attending meetings.

·          The employee members collectively manage the various work activities much different from the traditional management- subordinate roles in many companies.  The company equally organizes the various job tasks and responsibilities according to various abilities of its workers.

·          The employees are driven toward responsibility and personal creativity for the company’s development based on their experience, abilities, and talents as well as their desire for continued growth and professional development. 

·          For the consumers’ benefit, salaries are fairly equal and modest in order to keep down prices.

·          If the Cooperative were to fold, all assets would be transferred to the public good within the mutual fund for the promotion and development of the cooperation, instead of being divided among its members.

·          The cooperative environment is serene and relaxed since there are no conflicts of interest or power struggles, but complete collaboration for the company’s own good.  In this climate, everyone tries to do their best to improve the quality of the products and client service.

·          The Cooperative actively works with the recovery service for drug addicts in the local sanitation unit.

·          The Cooperative imports organic coffee within the equal and united commercial structure. (See Guatemala Project and Equal and United Commerce).

·          The Cooperative has recently begun to work with Emergency, a non-profit private organization for social welfare.  Emergency gives medical and surgical assistance to war victims, especially those injured by mines, through the construction and management of hospitals in those areas directly affected.