Growing Together
Founded in 2012, Midwest Elderberry Cooperative (MEC) is a grower-owned cooperative dedicated to supporting American elderberry production and building a stronger domestic market for this versatile native crop.
Our cooperative brings together farmers, processors, and buyers to create opportunities for small and medium-sized agricultural businesses. By working collectively, our members can access markets, share resources, and participate in an expanding industry that would be difficult to navigate independently.
Connecting Growers and Markets
For more than a decade, MEC has worked to connect businesses and consumers with certified organic and sustainably grown American elderberry products.
We work with a network of independent farms to supply elderberries and elderberry ingredients for commercial food and beverage production, as well as smaller-scale uses.
By coordinating production, processing, and marketing across participating farms, MEC helps connect domestic growers with customers seeking American-grown elderberries.
A Cooperative Built Around Its Growers
MEC is organized under Minnesota’s cooperative statute, Chapter 308B, and governed by a board elected by its grower-members.
Our cooperative model is designed to accommodate farms of different sizes, from small growers serving local markets to larger operations producing elderberries and elderflowers for commercial use.
As a cooperative, our purpose extends beyond selling agricultural products. We seek to strengthen the economic viability of our member farms, encourage collaboration, and support the long-term development of the American elderberry industry.
Supporting Farms and Rural Communities
We believe that a thriving domestic elderberry industry can create meaningful opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
American elderberry is a native perennial crop with potential benefits for agricultural diversification and environmental stewardship. By helping growers develop markets for their harvests, MEC contributes to a more resilient regional agricultural economy.
Our vision is a cooperative network in which independent growers can succeed together, customers can access quality American-grown ingredients, and the benefits of a growing industry are shared among the farms and communities that make it possible.