Two officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China recently visited Southern States Cooperative to learn about U.S. agricultural co-ops. A Chinese agronomist and Science Department Director met with Southern States Cooperative President and CEO Jeff Stroburg and the cooperative leadership team to learn about how co-ops are organized and how they function. The Chinese officials toured a fertilizer plant in King William, Virginia owned by Southern States Cooperative. During their six-week visit to the United States, the Chinese officials had a goal to witness a U.S. farm operation. The officials were able to visit a large row crop farm in Virginia. Stroburg says the officials “gained a better understanding of the tremendous value that cooperatives provide farmers in the United States."