About PASA

What is PASA and what do we do?
What does it mean to be a member of PASA?

Agriculture Related Topics

What is sustainable agriculture?
What does 'organic' mean?
How can I become certified organic?
What does 'grass-fed' or 'pasture-raised' mean?
What is a CSA?
What is a cooperative?
What is the definition of raw milk?

Purchasing Food

Why is it important to buy locally?
What is 'Buy Fresh Buy Local'?
Where can I find locally produced food?
How can I encourage my local schools to use local food?

Farm & Farmer Topics

How can I find a farm to purchase?
Is there financial assistance to purchase land or a farm?
Can you help me find a farm to do an internship with?
Where can I find help with forming a cooperative?

Q:
What is PASA and what do we do?

A:
PASA is a nonprofit, membership-based organization working to enhance the positve social and economic impact of agriculture and food systems in Pennsylvania. We work with farmers, consumers and those concerned with the ecological well-being of our environment and natural resources.

PASA works to increase the number of farms and the economic viability of existing farms in Pennsylvania to maximize consumer awareness and access to safe and healthy food that is locally grown and to develop a strong constituency for preserving farms, farmers and a thriving agrarian culture. We all have a stake in making sure agriculture has a healthy future. Be a part of PASA!

Q:
What does it mean to be a member of PASA?

A:
Membership in PASA welcomes you into a network of people who actively share and learn from each other about innovative, conservation-oriented production practices, community building and marketing strategies. You too can be a part of state-wide channels we are building to link farmers with farmers, farmers with consumers and consumers with markets.

A few of the several benefits you receive from becoming a member in PASA are:

• The satisfaction of know that you are helping sustain agriculture
• Web sites and directories to link consumers with PASA farmers
• Discounted admission to Farm-Based Education events
• Discounted admission to our annual Farming for the Future conference
• Passages newsletter six times per year
• Membership and business directory for networking
• Active regional groups to support members. needs
• Voting privileges

Q:
What is sustainable agriculture?

A:
Sustainable agriculture means building farms that can sustain healthy soil, produce healthy food and be profitable as well. The farm then becomes a vital economic part of the community, enhancing open space, providing community access to fresh, healthy food, and keeping the money spent on that farm in the community.

Methods of sustainable agriculture seek to be environmentally & socially responsible without sacrificing its ability to earn profit. It also strives for harmony with the natural environment, while considering human health as well as societal and economic well being.

Each sustainable farmer produces what works best on their farm so you find that there is a lot more diversity of food products in a community that has these kinds of farms.

Q:
What does 'organic' mean?

A:
Organic farming is an approach to agriculture where the aim is to create integrated, humane, environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production system. Reliance is put on locally or farm-derived renewable resources and management of self-regulating ecological and biological processes and interactions. Reliance on external inputs, whether chemical or organic, is reduced as far as possible.

Q:
How can I become certified organic?

A:
The United States Department of Agriculture requires that anyone who produces, processes or handles organic agricultural products must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifier in order to sell, label or represent their products as "organic." To become certified, an organic producer, processor or handler must develop, implement and maintain an organic system plan.

There are many certifying organizations across the country, one of which is Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO). PCO can provide information needed to develop an organic system plan. Once an organic system plan is approved, PCO sends a qualified organic inspector to perform an onsite evaluation of the organic operation. Then, based on review of the organic system plan, inspection report and related documents, PCO will determine whether the operation meets the requirements of organic certification. A certified operation must update its organic system plan and be inspected annually. For more information on organic certification visit : http://www.paorganic.org/

Q:
What does 'grass-fed' or 'pasture-raised' mean?

A:
Grass-fed or pasture-raised livestock have had continuous access to pasture throughout their lives and have never been confined to a feedlot where movement is limited. This type of livestock typically spends about 80% or more of their lives with access to fresh forage as the primary energy source.

The end product results in leaner meats compared to grain-fed livestock, containing less saturated fat and a higher proportion of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acids - 'good' fats that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Q:
What is a CSA?

A:
CSA stands for community supported agriculture. CSAs take many forms, but typically members, also called 'share-holders' of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover anticipated costs of the farm/garden operation and farmers. salary. In a sense the farm/garden becomes 'owned' by the members, while sharing in risks and benefits of food production. In return these share-holders receive the farm/garden.s bounty. The central aspect of CSAs is to take a shared commitment to build a more local and sustainable agricultural system. To find a CSA in your area visit our links page.

Q:
What is a cooperative?

A:
A cooperative is a business and is generally distinguished from other types of businesses by its governance and profit distribution. Members govern the cooperative, usually through a democratic process. Profits generated by the cooperative are returned to the members based upon their use of the cooperative's services.

Q:
What is the definition of raw milk?

A:
Raw milk has not been heated above a cow's highest healthy body temperature which is no more than 101 degrees F (38 degrees C) nor frozen, has not been altered with additives, chemicals, light or homogenization.

Q:
Why is it important to buy locally?

A:
Much of our food supply travels on average about 1,500 miles from the farm where it was grown to your table. Ensuring our food can endure the rigors of this travel, it is often harvested before ripe or preserved in some other manner during its trip to the store.

Locally produced foods in your area are likely to taste better and be fresher. Purchasing items from local producers also strengthens local economies as more money spent on these items stays in your community and supports your regional family farmers. Buying locally can be better for your health and helps to protect the environment.

Q:
What is 'Buy Fresh Buy Local'?

A:
The Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign is a national effort being coordinated by The FoodRoutes Network of Millheim, PA (www.foodroutes.org). The primary objective of the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign is to create a nationally recognized, brand-name identity for locally grown food, as a way of differentiating such products from the mainstream.

The Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign in Pennsylvania is being coordinated by PASA and already campaigns have been launched in PASA's Southeast and Western Regions, as well as a county-wide effort in Centre County, PA. To learn more about the Buy Local campaign in PA visit www.buylocalpa.org.

Q:
Where can I find locally produced food?

A:
There are several resources that can be used to find local sources of food products in your area. Some of these include:
www.localharvest.org
www.foodroutes.org
www.newfarm.org
http://agmap.psu.edu/

Q:
How can I encourage my local schools to use local food?

A:
Various farm to school programs have sprung up all across the country and forming relationships between local farmers and school dining services can be tricky. It is important to first think in 'baby steps', don't try to overhaul the entire food service system in one year.

It is important to build a consensus at your school - meaning get a group of interested students involved, parents, teachers, etc. that can help build the case for purchasing more locally produced foods. Then form a relationship with your food service director, this person can provide you with the knowledge of the obstacles in beginning a local foods project. Once these roadblocks are understood you should then find local farmers that may be interested in participating. PASA can help to locate farmers in your area that may be willing to work with your school. Remember that ultimately most of the work is going to fall upon the group who is pushing for local food.

A few schools PASA has been working with to bring more local food into dining services - The Pennsylvania College of Technology, Bloomsburg University and Slippery Rock University, who hosts a local foods dinner every semester.

PASA has created a toolkit for those interested in hosting a local foods dinner at their schools. This can be found on our main page and you can also visit the Other Resources page of our site for related websites with Farm to School information.

Q:
How can I find a farm to purchase?

A:
PASA's newsletter sometimes includes farms for sale or rent in various areas across the state. You might also contact local real estate agencies, conservation district or cooperative extension offices that may know of farms in the area for sale.

Q:
Is there financial assistance to purchase land or a farm?

A:
Search the Directory of Programs and Services for Northeast New Farmers using keywords such as credit, loans, lending, grants for resources on this topic.

Here is a sample of resources:

For Farm Loans, investigate Farm Credit Services and the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Search online for Commercial Lenders; places to start might include www.c-loans.com and www.mortgage101.com.

http://www.govbiz.com/ (reference book)

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE) has a grants program for farmers interested in testing new ideas and farm techniques.

Building Better Rural Places is an index of federal grant and loan programs for agriculture and rural development available through ATTRA.

Community Development Corporations: you can find them through your local Chamber of Commerce, or the National Congress for Community Economic Development.

The Foundation Center has an extensive listing of foundation and grant opportunities in all areas.

Q:
Can you help me find a farm to do an internship with?

A:
Many PASA-member farms offer types of internships or apprenticeships. To access a list of this information you can contact Heather House heather@pasafarming.org at PASA headquarters for a list of farms in your area offering these positions. Also, you can also check out the Opportunities section of this website and announcements listed in the PASA newsletter.

Q:
Where can I find help with forming a cooperative?

A:
The Keystone Development Center, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to forming and enhancing cooperatives in rural areas, recently released the Pennsylvania Guide to Cooperative Development Resources. The 40-page guide provides detailed information and lists of resources for individuals and groups who are looking to form or sustain a cooperative. For a copy of the guide, visit the center.s website at www.kdc.coop, call 215-292-1461 or e-mail smith@kdc.coop.