Someone tell the younger generation about the NorCal growers' Co-op?

Hellooo all ya old timers...
I'm dying to hear about the old Northern Cali Growers co-op from back in the day...
I know so little about it... would love some stories... how did it start, how and why did it end, and what is the legacy?
The little I have heard is that it was the source for some of the early 'elite' strains such as Ortega... sort of a cannabis breeders' think tank?
Anyway if someone would be so nice as to fill in a youngun?
:D

I'm bumping this thread too because I think there are some newer members here who have been around the block enough to reply to it.

I can ask around ... :jointsmile: