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Farm Support and Mentorship Programs

MACSAC is continually seeking to strengthen the network of growers who support the goal of creating a food system that closely connects eaters with the source of their food, particularly through CSA farms. We invite any grower, including non-CSA farms and farms producing non-vegetable items, to join the MACSAC community by sending your contact information including farm name, address, phone number and email to info@macsac.org.

All growers receive monthly mailings, newsletters, and invitations to participate in grower events, farm tours, and the general membership meeting.

Our newly established Farm Mentorship program provides four hours of formal mentorship per year for farms new to or transitioning to CSA.  Experienced farm mentors receive a stipend for their participation in the program.   Farms interested in joining the coalition and farms that have recently been accepted are given mentorship priority.  Ten farms are partisipating in the 2008 program.

Each year MACSAC organizes grower gatherings that allow farmers to share information and resources on topics ranging from "irrigation" to "soil fertility."  These gatherings are free and open to the public.  Contact MACSAC if you'd like to participate.

Formal Promotion by the Coalition

Farmers wishing to be formally promoted by the Coalition must complete an application and peer review interview process held annually each Fall.  Farms accepted into the coalition may participate in the annual CSA Open House, receive promotion through this farm list, and benefit from the support of MACSAC programs and staff throughout the year.

Please print and read the following information. Applications are due by November 15. Please contact us 608.226.0300 to request a paper application.

2008 Application Process

  1. Fill out and hand in the application by November 15. No late applications will be accepted due to the printing deadlines for our farm list.
  2. MACSAC new grower committee reviews the questionnaire and sets up a meeting with new farmers to review questionnaire, explain how the coalition works for farms, and answer any questions.
  3. New Farm Committee makes a recommendation to the MACSAC board whether to formally represent applicant farm for the coming season.
  4. Farm is notified of decision by January 31.
Farms that are formally promoted by MACSAC enjoy the following benefits:
  • Listing in the annual CSA Farm Directory Distributed through Sustainable Times newspaper to over 21,000 Wisconsin households 
  • Table at the annual Madison CSA Open House Attended each year by over 900 people and publicized in statewide media including the Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times 
  • Listing on the MACSAC website Receives over 270,000 hits each year. www.macsac.org. · 
  • Financial assistance for low-income households The Partner Shares program subsidizes 50% of the cost of you share for low-income households. (Eligibility after one full season in the Coalition)
  • Offer your members $100-$200 cash back Through Physicians' Plus Insurance Corporation's Eat Healthy Rebate, Unity Health Insurance, Health First Program and Group Health Coopeartive's Well Pass Programs that promotes MACSAC farms to over 120,000 subscribers.
  • Farmer-to-farmer mentorship and support Grower gatherings, communication with other CSA growers, and opportunities for bulk supplies purchasing
  • Member services by MACSAC staff Who respond to thousands of general emails and calls each year about CSA and guide potential members through choosing a farm
  • Rebate programs: Unity Health Insurance, Physician's Plus, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Dean Health Plan.
All farms that apply and are accepted to be formally promoted by MACSAC agree to:
  • All farms encouraged to participate on a committee or volunteer for an event (bike the barns, CSA Open house).
  • Attend the annual meeting in person or by proxy
  • Communicate information about MACSAC programs to their farm members including the Partner Shares fund for low-income households, Physicians Plus Rebate, A-Z Foodbook, and MACSAC events
  • Provide MACSAC with annual information regarding acreage, number of members, share prices, etc
  • Provide members with the opportunity to make donations to the Partner Shares Fund or a farm specific low-income assistance fund
  • Pay the annual membership fee, $20-$50

Grower Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to assist MACSAC’s New Grower Committee in evaluating farms applying to be formally promoted by the coalition.  These are not rigid criteria but provide guidelines to allow us to get to know your farm and identify how MACSAC can be of most assistance.

Secure Land & Adequate Infrastructure

  • Either own land or have rental agreement in place offering some assurance of ability to continue growing on that land.
  • Appropriate level of mechanization for amount of acreage in production
  • Provision for irrigating crops in dry weather
  • Provision for cooling crops when harvested and cool storage until delivery

Farm Production and Management Experience MACSAC strongly encourages those with limited growing experience to work toward developing a CSA by selling at a farmers’ market or to other markets prior to making commitments to CSA members]

  • Ideally a minimum of two seasons growing/farming experience (including internships/farm employment)
  • Ideally at least 1 year with primary responsibility for all or significant portion of a farm operation
  • Adequate labor capacity given size of operation

Utilize Organic Farming Practices [MACSAC does not require organic certification but does require growers follow organic practices as defined by the USDA]

  • Demonstrated knowledge of USDA Organic Standards
  • Demonstrated knowledge of soil building techniques and organic pest control
  • Demonstrated plan for weed control

Marketing Experience

  • Experience communicating/selling food directly to people, stores, restaurants, or others.

Understanding of CSA and CSA Experience

  • Demonstrated understanding of CSA basics, preferably experience growing with the model.
  • Provisions for diversity of items to be provided in share, marketing plan, methods for communication with
  • members, & member involvement.  
  • Brochure or other publication that clearly communicates an agreement with member including number of weeks of CSA, pickup location, price, payments due.

Agreement to participate in the Coalition

  • Actively participate in at least one MACSAC committee
  • Attend the annual meeting in person or by proxy.
  • Communicate information about MACSAC programs to their farm members
  • Provide MACSAC with annual farm information
  • Pay the annual membership fee, $20-$50.