Abstract:

Food cooperatives are a kind of informal cooperative whose members collectively buy food products directly from producers, aiming to shorten the supply chain as much as possible and eliminate intermediaries appearing between family farms - the food producer and the consumer. The aim of the study is to analyse and evaluate the functioning of cooperatives as an opportunity for development for family farms in a globalised economy depending on their size and organizational complexity. In order to achieve the objective, a diagnostic survey method was used, in which a questionnaire technique was applied - using a previously validated questionnaire on the functioning of two different cooperatives.  The research revealed significant differences between them. The degree of organisation and number of members (the size of cooperative) affects the activity of their members and the effects of their activities.