Menu
Who is CISA?

Who is CISA?

Hear about what we do from local farmers and people we work with every day!

Watch now

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.

CISA has been working for over 25 years to build a stronger, more resilient, and more just local food system. We envision a local food system where farms are viable, working conditions are fair and just for owners and workers, the environment is respected, and locally grown food is available for all.

Our Programs Strategic Plan Annual Report
Farmers' Market Farm workers Cow

Find Local Food Here in the Pioneer Valley

1
Select type of search
2
Enter information
3
Search!
  • Select a Type of Business - Farm, Farm Stand, Restaurant, etc.
    ZIP or City / Town
    Distance
  • Find all Local Hero businesses near your chosen location.
    Distance

  • Change Your Location & Radius

Whats Happening?

Legislation to Support Agritourism in the United States

October 4 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
On August 11, U.S. Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the bipartisan AGRITOURISM Act. This legislation would create an Office of Agritourism in the U.S. Department of... more
Find out more

MassGrown Wellness Presentation

October 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
MDAR invites you to an overview presentation on the peer support network MassGrown Wellness is working to create in our state to support the mental health and wellness of the... more
Find out more

Adding Value to Your Product Line

October 5 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Join us as we welcome the return of popular guest speaker, Laura Jensen a.k.a. The Pig Nerd. As a fellow farmer, Laura will share her expertise from her 6+ years of... more
Find out more

Hedgerows for Food and Diversity; Agroforestry on Farms and Homesteads

October 7 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
With Jono Neiger as our workshop leader, we’ll first look at Many Hands Organic Farm through the lens of whole systems design. We will explore, and literally dig into, areas... more
Find out more

Building Soil Health with Mushroom Compost

October 8 @ 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Register here! Join us in our journey of diving deep into the world of compost and mushroom substrate. Throughout the day, we’ll be looking into the living world of soil... more
Find out more

Dynamic Forests Walk

October 8 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Healthy forests are important for clean water, wildlife habitat, wood products, and providing climate benefits.  Join us for a forest tour in the Berkshire Foothills to learn from foresters and... more
Find out more

Forming an LLC

October 10 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
If you are curious about the details of an LLC, you’re not alone! Most farmers choose the LLC as their preferred business structure. The good news is that forming one... more
Find out more

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship 2024 - Informational Webinar

October 11 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
These cohort-based learning opportunities are for farmers and agricultural advisors in the Northeast and Midwest who are interested in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and planning, as well as... more
Find out more

Fun on the Farm edition!

October 14 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Making Food Fun comes to Westfield! Join CISA and local farms to celebrate the harvest season with apples, pumpkins, and flowers.
Find out more

Setting Goals for a Food Business / Estableciendo objetivos para una empresa de alimentos

October 18 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here! Whether you’re starting, growing, or taking on a leadership role in a food business, you get to define what you want your success to look like. Join Stevie... more
Find out more

Talleres Por Agricultores - Nuestras Raices

October 21 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 pm
¡Nuestras Raíces está comenzando el segundo año de Nuestros Finqueros Empresas de Formación este més! En nuestro primer taller aprenderemos sobre como germinar semillas dentro de su casa. Este taller... more
Find out more

Developing a Business Plan/Desarrollo de un plan de negocios

October 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here! Are you ready to turn your food business dream into a plan? Come learn about how to research, estimate, and pull together all the pieces of a business... more
Find out more
View All Upcoming Events

Get the Latest News From CISA

Valley Bounty: Pine Hill Orchards

September 16, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
It’s apple season and owner-operators Matt and Brady Shearer of Pine Hill Orchards in Colrain are gearing up for a vibrant fall. Like many farms in our three counties, the ... more
Read More

Valley Bounty: Masa Mexicano

August 25, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
The abundance of August produce is a chef’s dream, especially in the Valley, where we are surrounded by hundreds of local farms. Soon after chef Roberto Saravia of Masa Mexicano explains ... more
Read More

Valley Bounty: Crimson and Clover Farm

August 18, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
"Having resilient farms – farms that are financially solvent and can deal with stresses like droughts and flooding – isn't just about infrastructure,” says Nate Frigard, farmer and owner of ... more
Read More

NEPM: Many Graces Farm & Design

August 17, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, Local Heroes in the News, NEPM "Fabulous 413" interviews, Press Room
What a great show this week!  👉🏼 LISTEN HERE 👈🏼 starting at 13:40 Rebecca Maillet and Kel Komenda of Many Graces Flowers and Design in Hadley talk to Phil and ... more
Read More

NEPM: Atlas Farm Mobile Market

August 10, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, Local Heroes in the News, NEPM "Fabulous 413" interviews, Press Room
Meghan Williams and Rachel Labrie of Atlas Farm‘s Mobile Market, as well as Justine Saabs from Holyoke Housing Authority (HHA), give Kaliis, Monte, and Jacob a tour of one of ... more
Read More

Valley Bounty: Red Gate Farm Education Center

July 29, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
Moments of real consequence are common on farms, and they have much to teach about how the world works and how we choose to show up for others and ourselves. ... more
Read More

NEPM: Bardwell Farm

July 27, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, Local Heroes in the News, NEPM "Fabulous 413" interviews, Press Room
  Harrison Bardwell talks with Phil, Monte, and Kaliis about wins and losses this weird year for farming, including: “Nearly everything you can get at the grocery store you can ... more
Read More

Valley Bounty: Intervale Farm

July 15, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
Last week western Massachusetts endured both hellish heat and high water. Luckily, Intervale Farm in Westhampton escaped the worst it. Their vegetables and cut flowers, which supply most of their income, ... more
Read More

NEPM: Calabrese Farm

July 6, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, Local Heroes in the News, NEPM "Fabulous 413" interviews, Press Room
Joe Calabrese of Calabrese Farms in Southwick talks with Phil, Monte, and Kaliis about:  What’s in season: CORN 🌽 tomatoes, summer squash, and many more of you summer favorites.  Adapting ... more
Read More

Valley Bounty: Amherst Mobile Market

July 1, 2023    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Local Heroes in the News, Press Room
In places where fresh food is expensive or hard to get to, mobile farmers markets are one way to break down barriers. For people without reliable transportation, mobile markets bring ... more
Read More
Vew All CISA News

Featured Local Hero Profile

Be a Local Hero

Local Hero Profile: Wilder Hill Gardens

June 9, 2022    Posted in: Local Hero Profiles
Local Hero Profile by Ellery Pool, TerraCorps Service Member If you are looking for sustainably grown nursery plants, gorgeous cut... more
Read More