From the end of tobacco farming to innovative reinvention, the Tobacco & Associated Farmers Co-operative Organisation (TAFCO) has seen huge change over the years. When TAFCO started off 32 years ago they never thought they face the reality of an end of tobacco growing. But as always when facing adversity, they pivoted and reinvented themselves. Today this successful co-op has more than 620 members and is the very heart of their community.

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Episode Notes:

Victoria’s influential, award-winning and profitable rural supplies co-operative TAFCO, managed to reinvent itself to continue to benefit members after the decline of the tobacco industry. Today, they supply retail goods and farming services to a range of retail customers including primary producers, hobby farmers, tradespeople and townsfolk, and have a gross annual revenue of $7 million, providing a dividend to its 620 members who are primarily farmers. Kerry Murphy was fundamental in launching and growing the Myrtleford Farmers Markets and has helped source funds for other local economic development initiatives, such as the free delivery service to farms. Hear about how she makes it all work when she talks to Pete Lewis. How do they work to attract and engage farmers? How do they attract loyal customers and retain community support? How do they work together?

In this fascinating podcast series, you will hear from real farmers who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences, you will learn how this positive farming model changes lives.

Links & Resources:
Listen to all podcasts – https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/
Watch Peter Lewis interview Kerry Murphy https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-1-interview/
Watch Pete Lewis discuss how buying together works to benefit members and communities. Featuring Kerry Murphy (TAFCO), Dr George Ujvary (Master Butchers Co-operative), Donna Avery (Yolla Producers Co-operative Society) and Anthony Nehme (Yenda Producers Co-operative) https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-2-roundtable/
Want to find out more about TAFCO https://www.tafco.com.au/
Find out more about co-op farming – https://coopfarming.coop/
Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers Podcast team: https://coopfarming.coop/contact/

From the end of tobacco farming to innovative reinvention, the Tobacco &amp; Associated Farmers Co-operative Organisation (TAFCO) has seen huge change over the years. When TAFCO started off 32 years ago they never thought they face the reality of an end of tobacco growing. But as always when facing adversity, they pivoted and reinvented themselves. Today this successful co-op has more than 620 members and is the very heart of their community.
Follow Us On: Facebook &ndash; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/coopfarming/">coopfarming</a> Instagram &ndash; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/coopfarming/">coopfarming</a>
Episode Notes:
Victoria&rsquo;s influential, award-winning and profitable rural supplies co-operative TAFCO, managed to reinvent itself to continue to benefit members after the decline of the tobacco industry. Today, they supply retail goods and farming services to a range of retail customers including primary producers, hobby farmers, tradespeople and townsfolk, and have a gross annual revenue of $7 million, providing a dividend to its 620 members who are primarily farmers. Kerry Murphy was fundamental in launching and growing the Myrtleford Farmers Markets and has helped source funds for other local economic development initiatives, such as the free delivery service to farms. Hear about how she makes it all work when she talks to Pete Lewis. How do they work to attract and engage farmers? How do they attract loyal customers and retain community support? How do they work together?
In this fascinating podcast series, you will hear from real farmers who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences, you will learn how this positive farming model changes lives.
Links &amp; Resources:
<ul>
<li>Listen to all podcasts &ndash; <a href="https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/">https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/</a></li>
<li>Watch Peter Lewis interview Kerry Murphy <a href="https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-1-interview/">https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-1-interview/</a></li>
<li>Watch Pete Lewis discuss how buying together works to benefit members and communities. Featuring Kerry Murphy (TAFCO), Dr George Ujvary (Master Butchers Co-operative), Donna Avery (Yolla Producers Co-operative Society) and Anthony Nehme (Yenda Producers Co-operative) <a href="https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-2-roundtable/">https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-9-part-2-roundtable/</a></li>
<li>Want to find out more about TAFCO <a href="https://www.tafco.com.au/">https://www.tafco.com.au/</a></li>
<li>Find out more about co-op farming &ndash; <a href="https://coopfarming.coop/">https://coopfarming.coop/</a></li>
<li>Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers Podcast team: <a href="https://coopfarming.coop/contact/">https://coopfarming.coop/contact/</a></li>
</ul>

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop.


A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together. 


Featuring leading primary producers, the eight-episode podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model.


Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives.


Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop. 
 
A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together. 
 
Featuring leading primary producers, the eight-episode podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model. 
 
Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives. 
 
Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together.

Meet the Co-op Farmers

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop.

A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers and regional Australia transforming their businesses and communities and fighting back from the brink by working together. 

Featuring leading primary producers, the podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model.

In our second series, we uncover more great stories of co-operation in regional Australia. We’ll not only be talking to the farmers, fishers and foresters who put the food on our table and get the wood to the mill. We’re going to look at what’s driving a rediscovery and take up of this tried and tested model of doing business together. Along the way, you’ll meet people across our rural communities working together to overcome disasters and crisis and plan for a better future. It’s truly inspiring.

Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers and communities from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives.

Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

Presented by <a href="http://www.coopfarming.coop">www.coopfarming.coop</a>. A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers and regional Australia transforming their businesses and communities and fighting back from the brink by working together. Featuring leading primary producers, the podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model. In our second series, we uncover more great stories of co-operation in regional Australia. We&rsquo;ll not only be talking to the farmers, fishers and foresters who put the food on our table and get the wood to the mill. We&rsquo;re going to look at what&rsquo;s driving a rediscovery and take up of this tried and tested model of doing business together. Along the way, you&rsquo;ll meet people across our rural communities working together to overcome disasters and crisis and plan for a better future. It&rsquo;s truly inspiring. Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers and communities from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives. Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen&rsquo;s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

From the end of tobacco farming to innovative reinvention, the Tobacco & Associated Farmers Co-operative Organisation (TAFCO) has seen huge change over the years

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