CISA's Annual Meeting There are still a few seats available for CISA's Annual Meeting on March 16th from 6-9pm at Amherst College. Please note that this event is no longer a potluck. Instead, Amherst College will be providing dinner for all. Please RSVP to Jennifer Williams at 413-665-7100 as seating is limited. CISA Supports Raw Milk Producers and Consumers Representative Anne Gobi introduced a bill last year that would eliminate many of the hurdles raw milk producers currently face distributing their product. Currently, Massachusetts law allows only on-farm raw milk sales. The bill, HB 1995, An Act Relative to the Distribution of Raw Milk, would allow farmers to deliver milk to customers, either themselves or through a contractor. This would expand customer access to raw milk products by eliminating the need to drive long distances to the farm or to engage in unregulated buying clubs. CISA supports raw milk sales as an important marketing option for dairy farms, giving them a way to increase revenue while providing customers with a fresh, local product. HB 1995 has passed the Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and is now under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee. Find more information or contact your state Representative. Full Belly Dance Party March 24th, 8pm-midnight Northampton Center for the Arts CISA joins local farmers, educators, and food purveyors to sponsor this event benefiting local food security, both at the immediate level, through the work of Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers, and long-term, through the Kestrel Trust's efforts to protect local farmland. Last year's event at the Hampshire College Red Barn raised over $3,000! The dance party features toe-tapping dance tunes by the No-No's, snacks from sponsors, and a cash bar provided by Valley Malt and featuring libations made from locally grown ingredients. There will be great gifts raffled off during the night and we will do our best to raise as much money for our recipients as possible. Tickets are $10. For more information, click here. Finding Wholesale Success: Meet and Greet for Growers and Buyers CISA's Spring Meet and Greet will take place at Smith College's Campus Center Carroll Room, March 12th from 5:30-8:00pm. This networking opportunity is open to all purchasers, and limited to Local Hero member farmers. Contact Devon Whitney-Deal at 413-665-7100, ext 22, to register. |