Menu

Resources for Farmers

page banner

Local Hero Member Renewal & Enrollment

LocalHerosign

CISA’s Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® public awareness and marketing campaign was launched in 1999 and has since become the country’s longest running and most comprehensive “buy local” program for farm products. In 2020, COVID-19 pushed us to reevaluate everything we do to ensure that the services we provide to meet the needs of our members. We know this pandemic has affected our farms and businesses financially, which is why for the 2021 season CISA offered Local Hero membership on a sliding scale. As we all continue to learn to adapt to the situation, we want to ensure that cost will not be a barrier for farms and businesses to participate. That is why CISA will be keeping the sliding scale payment option for new and returning Local Hero members in 2022. We hope this will help encourage you to take the time now to enroll so CISA can continue to provide you with the resources and support you need to keep your business viable. We value your participation and look forward to working with you throughout the year to make 2022 better than the rest.

The Local Hero campaign uses a wide array of paid advertising (print, radio, and web) and public relations (press releases, events and appearances) to engage the public and increase support for local farmers. And it works!

Enroll online, and learn more about the benefits of membership, by clicking on the links at the right-hand side of this page. Contact Jen Smith at 413-665-7100 x22 to learn more about the Local Hero program.

“CISA does a tremendous job and their hard work is much appreciated!  It’s an honor and of great benefit to be part of CISA and the “local” tools are a big plus!  Thank you!”
-Mount Warner Vineyards

“Our association with CISA gives customers a sense of what we’re about: good food for our community.”
-The Benson Place

“I tell other farmers all the time that being a CISA member is the most well spent advertising money. This organization has done more to create a local market than anything else you could be a part of”
-Little Brook Farm

Local Hero = Success

A 2020 survey of Local Hero farmers found that:

  • 54% of participating farms reported net income increases from agriculture over the last year.
  • 95.6% of respondents were satisfied with the Local Hero membership program.

Our most recent market research found that:

  • Over 78% of residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties and 52% of Hampden county residents recognize the Local Hero logo.
  • People who recognize the logo are twice as likely to shop at their local farm stand or farmers’ market or to choose local product at their grocery store.

Read our 2006 Market Research Report [pdf]

Find It Locally

Search CISA’s online guide to local farms, food, and more!

Find Local Food