Federation Engages Mellissa Craig to Guide Next Phase of SOCO Marketing Efforts

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives is proud to reintroduce SOCO Marketing LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary and regional marketing system dedicated to expanding market opportunities for Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives across its seven-state footprint.

This next chapter is about building stronger, more coordinated pathways from farm to market. Many producers face common challenges securing consistent buyers, meeting larger volume requirements, navigating logistics, and managing fluctuating demand. SOCO’s mission is to address these challenges in a structured and practical way, empowering producers to grow and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

By improving aggregation, distribution, sales coordination, and marketing outreach, SOCO aims to serve as a reliable market partner helping farmers and cooperatives move more product, access wholesale and institutional buyers, and grow their operations with greater stability and confidence. This effort is centered on producer success. The goal is to create systems that support independent farms, family farms, and cooperatives, strengthen pricing power, and open doors to new and expanded sales opportunities.

To lead this work, the Federation has engaged Mellissa Craig (pictured above) as a Consultant to guide a phased market and operational strengthening process. Working collaboratively with leadership, state coordinators, and producers, she will focus on building the infrastructure, activating partnerships, implementing tools, and formalizing systems that improve communication and accountability across the network.

Together, this effort represents more than a sales channel as it strengthens economic resilience, expands opportunity, and invests in the future of Black agriculture. The Federation looks forward to working alongside farmers and cooperatives in this next chapter and invites you to join us in welcoming Mellissa as this work moves forward.

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