Abstract: This article reports a study of consumer food buying cooperatives located in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area. Size, composition, scope of activities, and operational characteristics were investigated for thirty-four cooperatives. Questionnaires were administered to approximately 225 members of twenty-four of these cooperatives. In addition, individuals identified as instrumental in the organization and operation of cooperatives were interviewed. The purpose of the article was to assess the present significance of food cooperatives, to predict their likely impact on the supermarket industry and to relate cooperative organizational structure to performance and member satisfaction. Many cooperatives included in the study identified as having been active within the previous 18 months or so were found to have gone out of existence. Members of these defunct groups frequently participated in the organization of newer cooperatives or joined existing cooperatives. Cooperatives have been classified by the researchers as "Suburban," "Young," or "Urban." These designations, while not mutually exclusive, reflect salient characteristics that the researchers believe effectively differentiate cooperatives.

　　Subjects: CONSUMER cooperatives; COOPERATIVE societies; CONSUMER behavior; BUSINESS enterprises; ASSOCIATIONS, institutions, etc.; PURCHASING; INDUSTRIAL organization; MASSACHUSETTS; BOSTON (Mass.); UNITED States; GROCERY shopping; HOME economics