March marks 100 years for Ontario ag co-ops!

2014 is the 100^th anniversary of the formation of a unified Ontario ag co-op system.

It all started in March of 1914, when 300 farmers met in Toronto’s Labour Temple to address issues of economic grievances and social unrest in the farm community. Farmers were keen on uniting into one organization and thus, the United Farmers of Ontario and the United Farmers Co-operative Company (UFCC) emerged. It was not very long after that the UFCC became the accepted trading medium. Its first commercial venture as a co-operative was to purchase twine from Ireland to break a monopoly of Canadian twine manufacturers.

Later UFCC bought coal, fencing materials and fertilizer in a co-operative mode. In 1927, it established a grain marketing pool based on the model of prairie wheat pools. During the 30’s, extensive educational programs were developed and leadership provided for the formation of the Ontario Chamber of Agriculture (now known as (OFA) Ontario Federation of Agriculture).

In 1948, ownership was converted from membership control of individual farmers to member control by member co-operatives. With this change, United Co-operatives of Ontario (UCO) was formed and for the next 46 years, UCO contributed much to the growth and development of the co-operative movement in the province.

In 1994, UCO’s assets were purchased by GROWMARK, Inc. where members of UCO chose to become shareholder owners of GROWMARK and create a co-operative system serving farmers internationally in both Canada and the United States.

Members of United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) pose for group picture at the UFO Annual Convention in Dec. 1929.

Today, 100 years later the Ontario ag co-operative system is thriving. The FS brand has been the leading brand for the Ontario co-op network for the past 20 years. In 1994, most Ontario employees had never heard of FS, but it soon became the cornerstone of everything we do. 

Today, Ontario has over 250 FS branded trucks on the road, 55 FS signed facilities and over 600 System-wide employees sporting the FS logo while serving more than 32,000 members and rural customers. 

In the past five years, Ontario FS Co-operatives have returned over $11.5 million in patronage refunds to Ontario farmers. 

Find an FS Co-operative near you! Visit www.fssystem.com for links to each FS Co-operative website.