As the domestic hemp industry slowly moves from infancy toward adulthood, one fledgling organization is establishing a foothold to ensure that hemp growers prosper in coming years.

The National Hemp Growers Cooperative began in 2019 with the goal of building wealth for its members, said Nick Walters, the co-op's managing partner. In the process, the organization will help to strengthen the nascent industrial hemp sector and promote sound environmental stewardship, he said in an interview.