Participation in cost-offset community-supported agriculture by low-income households in the USA is associated with community characteristics and operational practices

Abstract

Objective: Subsidized or cost-offset community supported agriculture (CO-CSA) connects farms directly to low-income households and can improve fruit and vegetable intake. This analysis identifies factors associated with participation in CO-CSA. Design: Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) provided a half-price, summer CO-CSA plus healthy eating classes to low-income households with children. Community characteristics (population, socio-demographics, health statistics) and CO-CSA operational practices (share sizes, pick-up sites, payment options, produce selection) are described and associations with participation levels examined. Setting: Ten communities in New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Vermont, and Washington states in USA Participants: Caregiver-child dyads enrolled in spring 2016 or 2017 Results: Residents of micropolitan communities had more education and less poverty than in small towns. The one rural location (NC2) had the fewest college graduates (10%) and most poverty (23%), and poor health statistics. Most F3HK participants were white, except in NC where 45.2% were African American. CO-CSA participation varied significantly across communities from 33% (NC2) to 89% (NY1) of weeks picked-up. Most CO-CSAs offered multiple share sizes (69.2%) and participation was higher than when not offered (76.8% vs. 57.7% of weeks); whereas 53.8% offered a community pick-up location, and participation in these communities was lower than elsewhere (64.7% vs. 78.2% of weeks). Conclusion: CO-CSAs should consider offering choice of share size and innovate to address potential barriers such as rural location and limited education and income among residents. Future research is needed to better understand barriers to participation, particularly among participants utilizing community pick-up locations.

Investigating consumers’ experiences with community supported agriculture: Convergent parallel design methods

“…In the United States, all-share purchases are available for two to five people, and members also have the option to purchase half shares for one to three people to meet the needs of different members [ 49 ]. CO-CSA provides subsidies or offset costs for some low-income families [ 50 ]. CSA members in China can pay a lower upfront payment and make regular payments upon receipt of the product [ 37 , 51 ].…”