Rumors have circulated for months that international food giant ConAgra has a standing offer to buy the co-op, albeit at a very low figure. I came in here to turn this co-op back into a profitable company, not to get it ready for a sale. Many growers, in open rebellion a year ago when they forced out Famalette and much of his management team, seem willing to give Shaw an opportunity to make good on his claim. He didn't make himself look good at the expense of the people here before him. He's made it a point to improve communication in the co-op.
Some growers wary Other growers remain wary.
I have concerns about the co-op's ability to make payments to the banks and the growers. From a business standpoint, it's unclear how you lose that much money and come out of it in such a short period of time. The theory was that growers who wanted to leave the co-op could sell their shares to other farmers. There's no buyers out there. John Miller hopes the co-op will repurchase the shares when the good times return.