Making Food Fun at

the South Hadley Farmers' Market!

Wednesday, June 19th, 2-4pm

South Hadley Farmers' Market

Buttery Brook Park, 123 Willimansett St,

South Hadley

CISA and the South Hadley Farmers' Market are teaming up to host this fun, free, hyperlocal food event for families. All ages are welcome to come play with food!

Dave’s Natural Garden will be on hand with many varieties of peas for a scientific taste test. Love Leaf Farm will teach about growing peas and sunflowers shoots and give out samples. Enjoy strawberries from Sapowsky Farms. Tortilla and Tortellini, tortoises from Flora & Fauna Farm, will be available for visits and photos. This free event is all about tasting local food and meeting local farmers. Parents, pick up information on SNAP match & HIP. More fun still in the works!

The South Hadley Farmers’ Market is open for the season every Wednesday through October 2nd, from 2-6pm at Buttery Brook Park.

Making Food Fun details >

What's in season: welcome, summer!

It's strawberry time!

Strawberries in June, the sweetest season! Well, until the peaches come in ... either way, you don't want to miss out!

So far, this is a GREAT year for strawberries, and picking your own is a wonderful way to spend some time outdoors, get fresh local strawberries at bulk prices, and fill your freezer for year-round berries picked at the peak of ripeness (here's how to freeze them).

Find Pick-Your-Own >

Find every farm with strawberries >

There's so much to enjoy! We can help you find it all locally

The growing season is really getting going, farm fields are full, and markets are brimming with tasty treats!

Find it all -- farmers' markets, restaurants that are cooking with local ingredients, specific crops -- in CISA's online guide to local food and farms >

HIP locations are opening

As summer approaches, there are more and more outlets for HIP (the amazing state program that provides an instant rebate when you use SNAP to buy produce from participating local farms and markets). If you or anyone you know uses SNAP to buy food, you need to know about HIP!

Find a HIP location >

Come work with us!

CISA is filling TWO roles -- please spread the word!

Office Administrator

The full-time Office Administrator position is responsible for overall office systems and facilities for our 21-person hybrid organization with a physical office space in South Deerfield. Our ideal candidate is a self-motivated problem-solver, someone who enjoys helping set up and manage an array of systems, with a willingness to focus on the details. They provide critical support to the entire CISA team and are often the first interaction the public has with CISA.

Details and application materials >

TerraCorps Service Member

CISA seeks a Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) for an 11-month, 1,700-hour service term. The CEC will engage with the Food Access Program Manager to manage volunteers on community service projects, educate or train individuals in environmental stewardship or environmentally conscious practices, and complete three capacity building projects.

Description and application materials >

Join us for Lunch on Local on Friday

Friday, June 14th, 12pm

On Zoom or at CISA's South Deerfield office

You're invited to join CISA Executive Director, Phil Korman, along with other CISA staff and supporters, for a casual lunch and discussion. The conversation will focus on lessons learned from last year's weather disasters and discuss how this year is unfolding for our local farms. Just a few spots left for in-person guests, so sign up now to join us!

HopeFest 24: A Mini-Music Festival to Support Food and Farmer Security in Western MA

Saturday, June 15 from 4 - 8pm (Raindate: Sunday, June 16)

174 Kately Hill Rd, Leyden, MA

Bring your lawn chairs, your picnics, and enjoy a fun afternoon and evening of good music and games while supporting a worthy cause! Featuring: guitarist and songwriter John Sheldon, favorite local traditional jazz and swing band The Catalytics, and a brand new ensemble, The Enchantivists with improvisational musician and songwriter John Genyo Sprague, flutist Ryah Lichtenstein, and singer Claire Dacey.

Suggested donation: $10 - $25 (more if you're inspired!). Proceeds will be shared between CISA and The Food Bank of Western MA.

Details >

Get to know our Local Heroes

Take a peek behind the scenes at local farms and other local businesses through CISA's weekly Valley Bounty column in the Daily Hampshire Gazette and interviews on The Fabulous 413 on NEPM! Find them all here -- and here are a couple recent highlights:

NEPM: Lakeside PYO Strawberries

It’s strawberry season! Maybe the best in a long time, says farmer Joe Czajkowski who owns Lakeside Pick-Your-Own Strawberries in Hadley. Hear Joe’s take on:

Taste testing different varieties, from lime-sized juicy berries to thumb-sized sweet ones.
Selling to UMass and many nearby public schools, and how he’d “rather see the country run by 100 cafeteria ladies than the Senate we have now.”
Aaaand … the continuing debate about how to pronounce “asparagus.” Maybe the Czajkowskis have it right?

Listen!

Valley Bounty: Wanczyk Produce

Jackie Pliska, owner of Wanczyk Produce in Hadley, has dreams of keeping the farm stand business open year-round instead of seven months each year. But first, she has to finish college.

“I like to say we’re a one-stop farmers’ market,” she explains. “We work with over 40 different farms across Massachusetts and bring their harvest here, so you can come to one place for it. We try to cater to everyone and make it really simple for anyone who wants to shop here.”

Read all about them >

Photo: Carol Lollis for the Daily Hampshire Gazette