Winter farmers' markets are open for the season, and we're thrilled to announce that our SNAP & Save program will continue to double SNAP (food stamps) up to $10 per week at participating markets in Amherst, Greenfield, Northampton, and Springfield, all winter long! Swipe your EBT card at the market manager's booth, and get double the tokens to spend that day at the market.

Find market details

From gifts and decorations to festive meals and celebrations, there are plenty of opportunities to choose local at this time of year. And we're here to help -- click here for info:

CISA's local gift guide
Local Christmas trees
Holiday roasts and meats

You can have an impact on our local food system! Make a donation today and help strengthen farms and communities for you, your family, and future generations.

Donate now

Maddie Elling and Abe Hunrichs, owners of Hosta Hill, are hard at work all winter, making a range of ferments including kimchi, krauts, and krautonics. Read all about their process, how their business has grown, and where to find their tasty, local pickles!

 Read all about Hosta Hill

CISA's newest report examines the large-scale wholesale produce market in the Pioneer Valley -- those businesses that supply schools, colleges, supermarkets, hospitals, retailers, and restaurants. We found that the wholesale market for locally grown produce is both promising and fragile, and the report provides recommendations for improvement that would make it easier to move locally grown produce in this marketplace. We are grateful to the 42 farmers, buyers, and partners who spoke to us, and to the USDA's Rural Business Enterprise Grant and Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education programs, which funded the work.

Download the report now

Little Brook Farm Camp is a children's educational program that takes place on a small family farm in Sunderland, where children have the opportunity to learn about livestock and sustainable agriculture. A discount of $20 per child, per week is available to CISA Community Members for the 2017 February and April sessions. Call Kristen Whittle at 413-665-3802 or visit Little Brook Farm online.

Learn more about Community Membership

Do you know someone doing great work for local food and farms? We want to give them an award! Since 2003, CISA has recognized farmers, institutions, businesses, and everyday community members whose work helps sustain local agriculture. Awardees will be profiled in next year's Locally Grown: Farm Products Guide and will be honored at CISA's annual meeting in 2018. Nominations are due December 30th.

Find criteria and nomination form here

Our winter workshop series for farmers, "Mapping Out Your Farm's Future: Settings Goals for the Success and Sustainability of Your Farm," is now open for enrollment. This workshop series will support farm owners and operators in decision making for realistic long-term financial, operational, marketing, and personal goals.

Details and enrollment

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!

Go to press page

Farm tours, film screenings, workshops, special local meals -- there's always something happening in the Valley!

Go to events listing