Cooperatives are organizations that are owned by all of the people that use the goods and services the organization provides. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a cooperative as a user-owned, user-controlled business that distributes benefits on the basis of use. All of the members of the cooperative are equal owners and usually select directors through an election process. Some small farms organize into cooperatives to provide opportunities that are difficult to access when operating as an individual.