F E A T U R E S
Catch the wind
Co-op's giant windmills work with Mother Nature to provide power
By Steve Thompson
The Big Apple
New products, added plant capacity play major role in Tree Top's sales strategy
By C. Lyon, C. Durham, S. Betula
The long haul
Is your co-op's farm to plant milk hauling optimal? This case study shows factors that can impact efficiency
By Peerapon Prasertsri, Richard L. Kilmer
The road up
Free-market reforms fuel growth of Ethiopia's co-ops
By Perry Letson
Benefits often key to keeping best employees
By Beverly L. Rotan
Building commitment
Sharpening you co-op communications can build member commitment and better reach select groups
By David Trechter, Robert P. King
DEPARTMENTS
COMMENTARY
MANAGEMENT TIP
NEWSLINE
On the Cover:
The fresh apple market has been depressed in recent years, leading to the failure of a number of packers. Tree Top, however, has used a well-honed marketing strategy to achieve record sales of processed apple products and has paid solid returns to its members. Story on page 8. Photo courtesy Tree Top and Abramowitz Studio Inc., Seattle

Ann Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture
Randall Torgerson, Deputy Administrator, USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Dan Campbell, Managing Editor
Vision 2000/KOTA, Design
Have a cooperative-related question?
Call (202) 720-6483, or
Fax (202) 720-4641, Information Director
RURAL COOPERATIVES (1088-8845) is published bimonthly by Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 0705, Washington, DC. 20250-0705 The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of public business required by law of the Department. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC. and additional mailing offices. Copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402, at $3.50 domestic, $4.38 foreign; or by annual subscription at $15.00 domestic, $18.75 foreign. Postmaster: send address change to: Rural Cooperatives, USDA/RBS, Stop 3255, Wash., DC 20250-3255. order form
Mention in RURAL COOPERATIVES of company and brand names does not signify endorsement over other companies' products and services.
Unless otherwise stated, contents of this publication are not copyrighted and may be reprinted freely. For noncopyrighted articles, mention of source will be appreciated but is not required.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD), USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.