In S outhern New England, the coastal wa ters are ideal for growing native sugar kelp. Kelp is rich in vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s and is a source of sustainable food. When cultivated locally it brings economic benefits to the region and helps preserve working water fronts. The short growing season and the small farm sizes (10 acres or less) limits the volume the farmers are able produce in a single season. In addition, Southern New England also lacks processing and transportation infrastructure necessary for seaweed farmers to access and establish outlets for kelp beyond its fresh (raw) form. Finally, the general awareness from the public about why and how kelp should be prepared provides sales and marketing challenges for farmers. The Sugar Kelp Cooperative is a model for seaweed farmers to streamline post-harvest activities for sales and marketing, and deliveries introducing consistent safety standards to the market while making the delivery channels more efficient. Cooperative farmers can also aggregate biomass to entertain institutional sales into the sales pipeline as well as push for a marketplace for the ecosystem services provided by the farmers .