Join us for CISA's Online Annual Meeting: May 21st!
Thursday, May 21st, 7pm

Wondering what farmers' markets, pick-your-own, CSAs, and farm stores look like during a pandemic? Curious about what it takes to build a brand-new distribution business in a matter of days? Concerned about hunger or worker safety? Thinking about how our local food system is going to be shaped by this crisis and the opportunities it presents?

Hear behind-the-scenes perspectives on what COVID-19 means for local farms and our local food system, and how CISA is responding. Bring your questions for a Q&A!

Panelists:
Philip Korman, CISA Executive Director
Margaret Christie, CISA Special Projects Director
Ben Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farms/CISA board member
Caroline Pam of Kitchen Garden Farm and Sunderland Farm Collaborative/CISA board member
What's in season, and how to get it
It's been an extremely challenging (and cold) spring, but farmers are working hard to get the growing season started and to get their products to you, safely!

Asparagus has arrived, greens are plentiful, and garden centers and plant nurseries are stocked with everything you need to make your garden grow.

We are keeping track of farm stands, farmers' markets, restaurants, and other local businesses so you can identify who is open for business right now and any changes they've made in response to COVID-19. Filter the list for curbside pickup, home delivery, and other coronavirus-specific purchasing options. This list is updated daily. Please share it!

HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) provides an instant rebate when you use SNAP to buy produce from participating farms. The HIP - Pioneer Valley Facebook page is up to date with participating locations and the list will continue to grow throughout the spring!

Signing up for a summer farm share now is an excellent way to support a local farm and to ensure a steady flow of local veggies, meat, herbs, etc. this summer. CSA farms are making plans to adapt to whatever circumstances the summer brings, and they need your support to do it.
How coronavirus is affecting local farms
"This disconnect between farms urgently needing outlets for their products and so many hungry people needing food speaks to the scale and speed of the disruption we are weathering, and to the scale and complexity of the systems that usually feed us." Read more about what COVID-19 is revealing about our food system and how local farms are dealing with it in this month's CISA column in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Every week, we talk to a local farm or business owner about what's going on behind the scenes, what they're working on, and what's growing. Check them out for a peek at what's going on at a flower farm, a garden plant grower, a distributor, a CSA, and many more.
Help CISA support local farms
Your donation to CISA means that we are able to continue answering calls from local farms working to figure out online ordering; produce an online guide to inform consumers on where to find local products; and advocate for increased HIP funding to increase access to local food for our community members. We couldn't do this work without you. Please consider making a gift today to help local farms stay viable through this difficult time and come out stronger on the other side. Donate.
$183,000 granted in Emergency Farm Fund loans
In partnership with the FCCDC (Franklin County Community Development Corporation) and the PVGrows Investment Fund, CISA's Emergency Farm Fund has made zero-interest loans totaling $183,000 to 13 farms which have suffered losses due to the spread of COVID-19. The fund will re-open for a second round of applications on June 1st. Read more.
Quick Links

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!
Job opportunities, land, equipment.
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1 Sugarloaf Street,
South Deerfield, MA 01373
413-665-7100