Investment in Affiliates

The Company has several in non-consolidated affiliates that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. As of June 3, 2017, the Company owns 50% of each of Red River Valley Egg Farm, LLC, Specialty Eggs, LLC, Southwest Specialty, LLC, and Dallas Reinsurance, Co., LTD. Investment in affiliates are included in “Other Investments” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $62.8 million and $47.5 million at June 3, 2017 and at May 28, 2016, respectively.

Equity in income of affiliates of $1.4 million, $5.0 million, and $2.7 million from these entities has been included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

The condensed consolidated financial information for the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures was as follows:



	For the fiscal year ended
	June 3, 2017	May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015
Net sales	86,072	91,320	61,632
Net income	2,804	10,090	5,323
Total assets	131,871	100,700	30,739
Total liabilities	6,543	5,697	4,659
Total equity	125,328	95,003	26,080

The Company is also a member of Eggland’s Best, Inc. (“EB”), which is a cooperative. At June 3, 2017 and May 28, 2016, “Other Investments” as shown on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet includes the cost of the Company’s investment in EB plus any qualified written allocations. The Company cannot exert significant influence over EB’s operating and financial activities; therefore, the Company accounts for this investment using the cost method. The carrying value of this investment at June 3, 2017 and May 28, 2016 was $2.9 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

The Company regularly transacts business with its cost and equity method affiliates. The following relates to the Company’s transactions with these unconsolidated affiliates (in thousands):

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	For the fiscal year ended
	June 3, 2017		May 28, 2016		May 30, 2015
Sales to affiliates	$	59,073	$	61,094	$	46,989
Purchases from affiliates	73,713		79,419		62,659
Dividends from affiliates	6,581		4,550		1,250



	June 3, 2017		May 28, 2016
Accounts receivable from affiliates	$	4,643	$	3,483
Accounts payable to affiliates	3,617		1,464