Read Chapter 26: — THE COOPERATIVE

Emma’s greatest business problem became supply.

She could grow fast and ruin the product.

Or grow slower and spread value.

She chose slower.

Black Mountain became a cooperative-style network with transparent pricing and quality rules.

Beekeepers retained ownership of their hives and honey.

Emma handled testing, branding, packing and sales.

A percentage funded pollinator habitat and training.

Older farmers mocked the paperwork.

Then saw the prices.

Mockery became interest.

The valley acquired twenty-seven new registered hives in one year.