We established our co-op system specifically to help non-local customers purchase the heavy bulk items (grains) and get a break on the shipping. The idea is to have groups of customers turn in orders to a co-op coordinator. The coordinator aggregates the individual orders into one big order that is sent to The Bread Beckers (BBI).
BBI then totals up the orders to check on available inventory and place additional orders for products. We also divide the co-op orders into "routes" based on location and the amount of weight our truck can carry.
Coordinators are responsible for dealing with the individual customers, aggregating orders, collecting payment from the customers, submitting the co-op order to BBI, coordinating the delivery time and place, assisting with unloading the order at delivery, dividing the delivery back into the individual orders for the customers.