CISA Workshops for Businesses

These meeting will give winter workshop participants the opportunity to network with one another and also provide additional time to discuss and consider their own individual farm needs as it relates to the workshop topics. Each session will have a CISA staff facilitator and a farmer Expert (Missy Bahret–Old Friends Farm, Pete Solis– Hampshire College Farm, and Gary Gemme– Harvest Farm of Whately). The topics for the meeting will be determined based on participant interest and determined as the class date gets closer.

Every year, CISA brings market managers together for a time to meet, share best practices, and learn from one another. This year, farmers' market managers from around the Pioneer Valley will gather at the Senior Center in Holyoke to get ideas for new concepts and ways to improve the overall operation of their markets. CISA welcomes market managers, steering […]

Rescheduled from April 4th due to snow! CISA is holding its spring networking meeting for Local Hero farmers to meet with buyers who are interested in purchasing local products for their businesses. This meeting will be a great opportunity for all buyers and Local Hero farm members to network, meet one another, and forge new […]

Join us to learn about the financial assistance available to help farms cope with 2016 losses and plan for the future. This workshop will discuss the direct financial compensation for losses available through USDA-FSA disaster assistance programs; funding available from USDA-NRCS and MDAR; new insurance options like Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and low-interest loan programs. […]

Define where you really want to be in 3-5 years. Organize your thoughts to produce the farm life and business you want. Give direction and confidence in moving forward. The business plan is your farm’s goals and values through a story of investments, operations, finances, and marketing channels. In this workshop we will give you […]