Enroll: Farmers & Farmer Coops

Restricted to businesses that grow, harvest, and market their own agricultural products as more than 50% of their economic activity.

Enroll in the Local Hero Program for 2024 Here!

Local Hero membership benefits

All members benefit from CISA’s aggressive advertising and marketing campaign and promotion of our trademarked slogan Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown^® and Local Hero logo.

CISA is again offering a sliding scale payment structure for membership fees in 2024 in a continued effort to make access to Local Hero membership more equitable. We invite you to determine the amount you are able to pay without compromising your operation.

The baseline cost for a bronze membership is $150. This cost covers staff time to maintain the Online Guide, execute marketing opportunities, “Buy Local” consumer advertising, the cost of the Local Hero POP starter kit, one-on-one CISA staff assistance, and overhead costs. If you can’t afford this, pay any amount between $1-$150. Please use the graphic and the benchmarks below to determine the price you will pay.

Not Sure What to Pay?

$40 covers the cost of the POP starter kit.

$75 covers the staff time to maintain the online guide and to execute marketing opportunities as well as the cost of the Local Hero starter kit.

Those who are able to pay $151 or more help subsidize the cost of those who are unable to afford the baseline price. If you are able to pay more it’s greatly appreciated by CISA and your fellow farmers.

Bronze (Baseline $150) benefits include:

• Permission to use the Local Hero logo
• Listing in the searchable Online Guide
• Starter kit of Local Hero price cards and stickers
• A Local Hero sign for new members
• Access to additional low-cost Local Hero materials (see more information here)
• Priority access to CISA marketing expertise and business assistance
• Priority access to funding to work with outside consultants and marketing professionals
• Members-only networking events
• Monthly members-only e-newsletters
• Discounts on newspaper and radio advertising, Pioneer Valley Local First membership, and graphic design. See more information here.
• Eligibility to serve on CISA’s board and committees

Silver (Baseline $240) benefits include:

All the benefits of bronze membership, PLUS:

• Additional free Local Hero stickers and price cards; up to 100 rolls of stickers and 1,500 price cards
• 50% off client facility fee at Western MA Food Processing Center. See more information here.

Potentially win one of 3 $100 Visa Gift Cards for Completing Year-End Survey!

*Complete our survey here and get entered into a raffle if you are a returning member!
CISA strives to improve the programs and support we provide to you and we value your feedback. Please take the time to complete our year-end survey and be entered in a raffle to win one of three $100 gift cards.

Multiple listings or memberships

If you have more than one farm stand you can get them listed. Please refer to the sliding scale to determine the cost you will pay per listing. If you own one or more eligible non-farm businesses, or if you want your farm listed in multiple sections of the online guide, you may be eligible for additional savings per Local Hero membership. For any questions contact Jen Smith at 413-665-7100 x22.