In Business: Profile
Featured story: Still River Fiber Mill, Eastford, Connecticut.
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Company Profile: Nutrition is a science and an art.
Founded in 1938, the Central Connecticut Cooperative Farmers Association (CCCFA) offers feeds for livestock, poultry, equine and companion animals in 50 pound bags or in bulk depending on the size and needs of each farm or business. Nutritional and management consulting is offered to clients and includes customized programs for all animal species. (State-of-the-art scientific technology can customize feed for orders as small as 1.5 tons.) The co-operative is wholly owned by farmer members and returns profits as a dividend to members.
“We are the only farmer-owned and -operated feed mill in Connecticut,” said Don Domina, general manager, who has seen many changes in the agricultural landscape over his 34 years at CCC. “Sheep and goats are very popular with people at present. Chickens were the thing at one time, nowadays they are less so. Dairy was big, but now that’s dwindled. Smaller farms keep everyone going.”
Healthy livestock and companion animals thrive on quality feed, proper forage, parasite control, and enough play, diversions or work to satisfy their needs. Hay and pasture vary depending on health of soil and management. All must be in balance for optimum health. And needs change for each animal as time passes.
Central Connecticut Co-op started in 1938 in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1940, operations moved to East Hartford. In 1942, they bought the property in Manchester.
“We’ve been here ever since,” he said. “At this location we started out mainly with poultry feeds; in the 1960s, added dairy. Now we feed sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, horses, bison, exotics, you name it. We work with farms all over the Northeast.”
The process begins with quality raw ingredients.
“Start to finish, we do it all right here – grind, mix to specifications, pelletize, bag, and then deliver in bulk.”
Deliveries are primarily made for a 125-mile radius. CCC will also prep and package an order for light truck load pick ups. “In addition, we also make all-natural fertilizers. More towns are recommending these for use in parks and field so that when kids play there are no chemicals present.”
The co-op is positioned as a hub at the center of a many-spoked wheel.
There is also the CCC Feeds & Farm Supply store and a CCC Farmers’ Market at the co-op (look for it in early spring). Both are located at the CCC property, 35 Oakland St., Manchester.
“With our new retail store, we’re looking to put in a distributorship because we have feeds coming in from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. People are looking to get into New England – to start a distributorship with us where they can bring their feed in and we can have it delivered from our central location here in Manchester.”
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Event listings sponsored by CCC Feeds include farm markets, equine nutrition, a spring horse symposium and others. Visit their site to learn what’s being offered. For other business stories and profiles, visit our “Recent Stories, News” page and browse by topic.
