"Our co-op started in 1976 and we went through almost ten years where we didn't have a clue what we were doing next. We went through all kinds of crises. One of our sales reps who knows a lot about co-ops would say, you know, it's funny, every co-op has gone through the exact same stuff. It's too bad they can't learn from each other." Dee Lerch, Kootenay Co-op, 1990 in Images Magazine.

On the lack of consciousness for land co-ops:

"Are we barking up the wrong tree with our quasi-hippy land fantasy? Even though the price is right, finding new members has proven to be difficult. Many of us have learned to be wary of collectives through our experiences in the women's movement. Many women, younger women in particular, have a more gender inclusive vision. Others find it difficult to make the leap in lifestyle or figure out how to survive financially." K. Linda Kivi, Maa Land Co-operative, 1999.

It was through the co-operative effort that Japanese-Canadians were able to continue farming in the Fraser Valley during the 1920s. Co-operatives formed by the Japanese were later dissolved due to internment: "We organized local co-ops first and then a federation of the locals to ship all produce through one channel.This took 10 years' of time and a lot of patience and energy. However, this co-operative effort saved strawberry farming from ruin and saved the Japanese from losing their farming rights politically." Yatsuto Yamaga, 1958.

"In our store every week the [people from the large grocery chains] come in with their little clipboards and they wander up and down the aisles with some measure of awe and fascination because they don't really understand this, all they know is that it's really successful and they want a piece of the action." Fred Easton, Kootenay Co-op, 2000.

Reflecting on the philosophy of co-operation: "We are great individualists around here, but working with others is an opportunity to express and develop that individualism. The only time you lose your freedom is when you lean back and let others work for you." Hugh Elliot, 1958, Delta Co-operative.

"To get a loan from the bank you would have to prove first that you didn't need it." Michael Bach, Edelweiss Credit Union (now Fraser Valley Edelweiss Credit Union), circa 1940s.

"Don't forget that Credit Unions are part of the Co-operative Movement. Remember that, especially among fishermen, there must be a strong Credit Union organisation underlying co-operative development. Only a debt-free fisherman can be a good co-operative fisherman. If a fisherman must borrow let him 'borrow from himself' through a Credit Union." UBC Extension Department, Co-operative Division, circa 1940s.

"What I don't know how to do, somebody else does. So all I have to do is hire them..Remember your membership has all kinds of skills." Jarvis Taylor, manager, South Peace Grain Cleaning Co-op, 2000.