CISA's March 2024 enewsletter

Join us for CISA's Annual Meeting and Celebration

Thursday, April 4, 5-8pm

Smith College, Carroll Room

CISA members and supporters are invited join us to honor our Local Hero Award recipients, enjoy a delicious buffet dinner, and celebrate all we accomplished in 2023.

The Annual Meeting is free to attend, but registration is required. Cocktail hour with a cash bar begins at 5, and the evening program begins promptly at 6 pm.

Farm Tour: Pause and Pivot Farm

Join CISA at Pause & Pivot Farm in Williamsburg on April 18th at 3 pm for a tour of their hydroponic container farm.

Discover the innovative techniques they use to grow a diverse array of greens and herbs year-round. You’ll also get a sneak peek at their brand-new woodworking operation at the farm, where salvaged and native wood are transformed into beautiful small furniture and functional home goods.

This tour is offered on a sliding scale basis, and limited is space available, so please sign up in advance.

Seasonal Updates

It's technically spring but it sure feels wintry! We'll keep you updated as winter farmers' markets give way to spring and summer markets. Last winter market dates are here:

HIP is year-round!

Did you know that if you have SNAP, you can automatically get an instant rebate of at least $40 a month, all year round, when you buy produce from participating local farms and markets, thanks to the state's Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)?

Find a HIP location

Ready for spring? Sign up for your farm share now!

Local farms are now accepting sign-ups for farm shares for this coming growing season. Sign up now and get a weekly distribution of the harvest! Many farms allow for installment payments, or accept SNAP and HIP -- and don't forget about the UMassFive no-interest Farm Share loans!

Find your farm share >

Thanks for a wonderful Field Notes

On March 10th, 10 storytellers took the stage at the Academy of Music Theatre to tell their story's at CISA's 5th annual Field Notes.

“Farming is not just white men on tractors. Women, black people, immigrants, people with disabilities are all farmers, and we are beginning to claim that space and feed ourselves, our souls, and our communities," says Field Notes performer Suna Turgay of Flowerwork Farm.

"Our stories yesterday affirmed the diversity of what it means to be a farmer in this country – at least in our community here," she continued. "I was inspired by not just the stories, but by the response and support from the packed venue.”

Suna put it better than we could. Field Notes has always been about widening our collective imagination to include everyone who has a hand in creating our local food system. To paint a picture that is not just more inclusive, but also more true to life.

Thank you to everyone who came out to listen, and especially to our 10 brave storytellers and even more interpreters, coaches, and support staff who made it all happen. We are so grateful!

Get to know our Local Heroes!

Take a peek behind the scenes in CISA's press room -- we talk with local farmers, restaurateurs, and more every week! Here are a couple recent highlights:

Valley Bounty: River Valley Co-Op

In just 15 years, River Valley Co-op has grown into an indispensable part of the local food economy. For local farms, food businesses, and community members who want easy access to local food, their continued growth is something to celebrate. "Food co-ops are about a different way of doing business,” says Rochelle Prunty, General Manger.

Read all about them >

Carol Lollis/Daily Hampshire Gazette photo

NEPM: Brookledge Sugarhouse

Keith Bardwell talks to Phil, Kaliis, and Monte about their process for making maple syrup, how this year is going, and how to visit the farm.

Listen >

NEPM: Kitchen Garden Farm

Have you heard? Two longtime employees, Lilly Israel and Max Traunstein, are buying Sunderland's Kitchen Garden Farm, known for their beautiful organic produce and line of prepared foods, including sriracha and salsa.

Listen >

You can support this exciting transition here >