Erie Crawford Cooperative was originally started on June 11, 1941 when a special meeting was called to merge Erie Milk Producers and the Saegertown Dairy Cooperative Association. The Board of Directors, composed of area farmers served as the first board in the new merge history. The first board consisted of President John Barney, Vice President John Peterson, Secretary/Treasurer Lee Port, with other directors Harley Osborn, Joe McGahen, Ed Rose, Henry Zimmer, Walter Burchard and Charles Spaid. Working together as farmers gained them the control and strength needed for the business to grow.
Erie Crawford Dairy Cooperative Association was then operating as a milk marketing cooperative, whose main objective was to market our producers milk. Distributing milk to many of the local dairies in the surrounding Erie Crawford Counties along with the Pittsburgh area, Erie Crawford Dairy strived to keep its producers milk marketable.
With the changing economy in the late 1960's, Erie Crawford Dairy reviewed the objectives. With the declining dairies and the competition from out of state milk, marketing milk for our producers was very difficult. In 1969 the Board of Directors voted to discontinue marketing milk.
With Erie Crawford Dairy no longer marketing milk, they took on a completely new direction. In the early 1970's the Board of Directors and its members decided to upgrade the feed stores at the Union City, Saegertown, and Erie locations. Ever responsive to the changing needs of area farmers, it was decided to build an ultra modern feed mill in Union City. As the new mill was being built, a complete renovation was taking place at the Saegertown and Erie mills. To fit the new direction our name was changed to Erie Crawford Cooperative.
With the ever changing economy and the decrease in area farms, the Cooperative once again to review its objectives about its future. Exploring areas for new revenue, it was decided to turn to the general public. With another new direction we began to promote pet products, lawn and garden supplies, and propane. With the installation of a new state of the art corn dryer at the Union City location we have been able to to provide area farmers with a valuable resource.
Embarking on the 21st century our continued objective is to support the family farm with an optimistic outlook. We will continue to provide quality products and professional service to our surrounding communities.