NORTHAMPTON – CISA, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, is holding its annual meeting and potluck on Friday form 6-9 p.m. at the Northampton Senior Center. It is open to all Local Hero members, CISA Community Members, and CISA donors. CISA will share the past year’s successes and look ahead to upcoming challenges. In addition, newly appointed state Agricultural Commissioner, John Lebeaux, will be in attendance. Commissioner Lebeaux was appointed by the Governor in early February and this will be his first trip to the Pioneer Valley.
At the annual meeting, attendees will be asked to review the emerging Massachusetts Food System Plan.
“Every year, we ask the community to share their expertise on a current topic and we thought the time was ripe for us all to weigh in on Massachusetts’ first food plan since 1974”, said Philip Korman, executive director of CISA.
We will also celebrate the recipients of the Local Hero awards — Squash Trucking, Inc., Maple Corner Farm, and Adams Farm — for their contributions to the buy local movement. “Our awardees represent a slice of the local food economy throughout the Valley. They share a long-term commitment and a willingness to work hard to bring local food to our tables,” said Margaret Christie, special projects director.
CISA is a nationally recognized organization of farmers, community members, and advocates working together to strengthen farms and engage the community to build the local food economy. Working in western Massachusetts and the region for over 20 years, CISA offers assistance to farmers, provides farm shares for low-income seniors, and runs the nation’s oldest agricultural “buy local” campaign – Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown®. Find out more about our work to double the amount of local food in our diets at buylocalfood.org or call 413-665-7100.
