Join us in Easthampton for a free screening of Field Notes!
Hosted by River Valley Co-Op
Friday, September 17
Millside Park, 2 Ferry Street, Easthampton
Gates open at 6:30pm, film starts at dusk
(around 7:45pm)
FREE!

CISA is proud to co-host an Easthampton screening of our farm and food storytelling event with River Valley Co-op, in celebration of the opening of their second store!

This year’s show features six amazing storytellers from around the region sharing their adventures (and misadventures) in farming, cooking, navigating new cultures and relationships, building community, and more.

Masks are required when social distancing is not possible. If rain is predicted, the event will move to an online livestream. Check CISA’s Facebook page on September 16 for updates and information on how to stream, and find more information here.
What's in season and where to find it
You can still find warm-weather crops like tomatoes, corn, and peaches, PLUS the cooler weather crops like winter squash, leeks, and spinach are starting to return. CISA's online guide can help you find markets, farm stands, specific crops, restaurants, or grocery stores that offer local food, or just everything near you.

Feeling busy?
This is a great month to take a break from cooking and enjoy the delicious dishes that Local Hero chefs are preparing with the local harvest. Find a Local Hero restaurant for your dinner tonight (or any other meal!).

We talk with farmers every week to get the behind-the-scenes stories. Check out CISA's Valley Bounty column in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and WRSI's Local Hero Spotlight interviews with Monte Belmonte if you want to know what's going on!
Senior FarmShare served 500 people this year,
thanks to state support!
This year, more than 500 seniors with low incomes are receiving weekly fresh vegetables from local farms, thanks to CISA's Senior FarmShare program and the support it has seen from the western Mass delegation, especially lead sponsor Rep Dan Carey. This week, seniors from South Hadley visited Dave's Natural Garden to tour the farm, along with legislative supporters Rep Carey, Rep Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep Jake Oliveira, Rep Pat Duffy, and an aide for Senator Eric Lesser. Such a great opportunity to build connections between seniors, the farmers, and the program's supporters in the legislature -- we're so grateful!

Restaurant profile: The People's Pint
A hub for good is the simplest way to describe The People’s Pint in Greenfield. Now having been in the community for almost 25 years, The People’s Pint has proven to be a restaurant where you can find good food, good beers, good company, and good business practices.

CISA is seeking a volunteer for market research
Our business technical assistance team is seeking a volunteer to help us with a pricing observation project. This market research is part of a collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension. This involves travel to various retail and farmers' market locations in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties during September and October. Time commitment is flexible and can be based on individuals’ availabilities. Volunteers will need to have access to transportation and involves using a smart phone or ipad. Travel mileage will be reimbursed. Interested, or want to know more? Email Stevie Schafenacker for details!
Fall Workshops and Business Assistance
Farmers, take note! This fall, CISA will host 5 on-farm workshops on topics related to sustainable agriculture and resource and energy conservation, as well as two workshops on social media and website management for farms. This is a chance to pick up knowledge from professionals in the agricultural and energy professions and to improve the online presence of your business. Workshops are relevant to all and targeted towards small to mid-sized farms in their first 10 years of operation.

Goodbye to Devon Whitney-Deal
We're sad to announce that Devon Whitney-Deal, CISA's longtime Local Hero Program Manager, is leaving CISA. Devon has been a familiar face and invaluable support to many of you, so we are sharing her goodbye here along with our absolute best wishes for everything to come for her!

"I wanted to take a moment to let all of you know that I will be leaving CISA on September 10th to pursue living life to the fullest. It comes with mixed emotions because you see I have been so fortunate to work with so many farms, businesses, and service partners in the Pioneer Valley. 
 
The work I've had the privilege to do at CISA the past 13 1/2 years has taught me so much, exposed me to some of the nicest people I've ever met, inspired me greatly to learn and experiment with farming on a personal level from fruit to vegetables to chickens and pigs! I couldn't have asked for a better job to keep me engaged, inspired to learn more, and excited to make it possible for all people to make local food choices that include shopping and eating at local hero businesses. Top that off with working with some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable people and it makes me even wonder why I am leaving.

Times change and now it is time for me to let Dan Burke Perez guide and support you when it comes to the Local Hero Program and for Zoey Sloate to assist with guidance on farmers' markets, SNAP and HIP, and even with 1x1 TA consultations along with the excellent support Stevie Schafenacker provides with any of the technical support needs you have to operate sustainable businesses. They along with the remaining CISA staff are truly a team looking out for the better of your operation. It has been an honor to be affiliated with local agriculture and all of you.
 
I want to convey my appreciation to all farm and local hero businesses for doing the work that you do. You can be sure I will keep supporting and watching them grow from the consumer side. Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown!"
Quick Links

Check out our press page for news stories about local farms and local agriculture, along with our weekly interview series on WRSI, monthly column in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and more!

Job opportunities, land, equipment.
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South Deerfield, MA 01373
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