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2025 Local Hero Enrollment
Enroll in the Local Hero Program Here!
Local Hero enrollment is open for all new and renewing members. Since our memberships run on an annual basis from March-March, new members that are joining after April 1 are encouraged to consider pro-rating membership fees by using the sliding scale. Please contact Jen Smith at 413-665-7100 x22 to learn more about the Local Hero program, or with any questions.
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. Local Hero membership benefits your business. Being a part of CISA’s Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® program signals to consumers that your products are local and your business is in their backyard. We will continue our paid radio, television, and internet advertising, along with Local Hero spotlight segments throughout 2025.
CISA is offering a sliding scale payment structure for membership fees in a continued effort to make access to Local Hero membership more equitable. 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 2025 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!
“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]