**The Forum will be held at the CISA Office, 1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield** CISA is pleased to invite you and market committee members to our 2017 Farmers' Market Manager Forum - a great opportunity for stakeholders from across the Pioneer Valley to meet, harvest fresh ideas, learn about new programs, and share market-boosting strategies. […]
Grants are great for exploring and expanding new markets, building alt-energy structures, and exploring farm viability. Determine if a grant is the right source for you. This presentation will help you understand, develop, and submit successful grant applications. We will discuss a wide range of grants as well as a more detailed presentation of SARE […]
This workshop will explore the alternatives to land ownership and the advantages and challenges to these specific arrangements. Learn how to negotiate and craft lease agreements and build good relationships with all stakeholders as business people and land stewards. We will also discuss where to find additional support based on your specific land needs and […]
Learn what it takes to launch a new value-added product, and get inspiration from seasoned producers. Joanna Benoit from the Western MA Food Processing Center will discuss key product considerations, regulations, and start-up costs, and a panel of producers will share their experiences assessing opportunities, refining recipes, getting funding, developing infrastructure, and more.
Get tips on marketing your value-added product and refining your business model to meet your long-term goals. A panel of producers -- including Abe Hunrichs of Hosta Hill, Nicole Blum of Carr's Ciderhouse, and Jessica Tudryn Wisniewski of Relish the Harvest -- will share how they branded their products, evaluated and developed markets, set goals, arrived at their current marketing plan, and faced challenges and successes along the way.
The snow is melting and CISA invites you to come make fresh connections and build new relationships. This networking event is all about showing off your goods and offering prepared samples of your products — anything from meats and cheeses to spreads, beverages, and sliced produce. Buyers, bring your shopping list! Each attendee will have […]
This training is for fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Participants will learn about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and how these requirements will be enforced in MA through MDAR’s Commonwealth […]
CISA, in partnership with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), is hosting a SNAP retailer sign-up day to get you ready to accept SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) at your farm stand, farmers' market booth, and through your CSA program. USDA, DTA and MDAR staff will be […]