Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture

Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture has been working over the last 30 years to build a more resilient local food system. By connecting farmers and the community, they strengthen local relationships to boost farm viability and support the health of residents in the region. Their focus on food sovereignty is built on the values of respect, equity, and collaboration.

Local Hero Program

CISA’s public awareness and marketing campaign Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® brings attention to local farms within its membership. The program utilizes a variety of paid marketing strategies through print, web, and radio along with press releases and events to engage the public in support of local agriculture. Being a member also gives you access to the well-known brand signaling to consumers that your products are local and that your business is in their backyard. According to their most recent report, it was found that over 78% of residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties and 52% of Hampden county residents recognize the Local Hero logo. Additionally, they found that people who recognize the logo are twice as likely to shop at their local farm stand, farmer’s market, or to choose local products at their grocery store.They offer a sliding scale membership fee for farmers, grocers, and other institutions.

To learn more and enroll click here

Business Assistance

CISA provides business consulting support for farmers in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties in Massachusetts.They provide in-house assistance, as well as referrals and funding to meet one-on-one with outside professionals with a wide variety of expertise. CISA’s business assistance is made possible through grants and private donations, which cover CISA staff time and outside consultant/mentor fees and allow us to offer farms free or low-cost assistance.

Tip Sheets

CISA offers a variety of tip sheets for farmers including:

  • Agritourism
  • CSAs
  • Crop Storage
  • Farm to School
  • Farmers’ Markets
  • Financial Planning and Business Decision Making
  • Food Safety
  • Insurance
  • Labor law and Management
  • Land Access and Leasing
  • Marketing
  • Meat and Poultry Processing
  • Point-of-Sale Systems
  • Pricing
  • Salad Greens and HACCP
  • Value-Added Products
  • Wholesale

Access tipsheets here

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