Founded in 1923 to provide affordable, high-quality seed to Virginia farmers, Southern States Cooperative serves about 321,000 members, mainly in midwestern and southern states. The co-op offers its farmer-owners feed and fertilizer manufacturing, seed processing, grain marketing, and petroleum and propane services, as well as wholesale farm supplies. Its Southern States and GardenSouth stores sell farm supplies, garden products, and fuel through more than 1,100 retail outlets. Other services include GrowMaster Crop Services, sales financing, and an aquaculture program. Southern States Cooperative merged with Michigan Livestock Exchange in 1998 and purchased Agway Inc.'s consumer wholesale dealer business.