Pembroke Farmers Cooperative

The Pembroke Farmers Cooperative was created in 1999 by a small group of farmers, the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, USDA, and several other entities. The only co-op in Kankakee County, Pembroke’s thirty or so farmers produce mostly specialty crops and pasture-raised poultry. Farmer members are largely African-American, all use chemical-free growing methods, and some are certified organic.

Pembroke Township, 60 miles south of Chicago near the Indiana border, has been historically an economically depressed area and continues to struggle with high unemployment and poor education. Pembroke Farmers Cooperative contends with water scarcity, poor roads, and farmers’ limited experience in agriculture and marketing.  But the Cooperative has allowed these small farmers to combine resources, helping them overcome these and other hurdles, such as marketing, transporting product, and purchasing farm equipment. The Kankakee County USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) was particularly instrumental in getting the Coop off the ground. Local FSA Director Merrill Marxman wrote grants to acquire major funding for the group and also helped with such things as locating a processor, creating a label, and transport to out-of-state workshops.

Basu is the Cooperative’s president and believes that healthy local agriculture yields healthy community and economic development. Today, Pembroke Farmers Cooperative sells theirs wares at numerous farmers’ markets, health food stores, and restaurants.

Iyabo Farms is one of Pembroke’s farm members. Click here to learn about their family.

Updated 11/2005