Intervention Study of Cost-Offset Community Supported Agriculture (CO-CSA)

Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids: Innovative Community Supported Agriculture Cost-Offset Intervention to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Strengthen Local Agricultural Economies

The purpose of this study is to better understand how participation in cost-subsidized community supported agriculture programs paired with tailored education can affect diet quality and energy balance among children in low-income households.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an innovative approach to increasing consumer access to and consumption of fresh produce, thereby lowering obesity prevalence. However, CSA "share" costs may be a barrier for low-income households with children. This multistate study examines whether subsidizing the cost of CSAs, integrated with tailored education: 1) increases consumption of fruits and vegetables, 2) substitutes fruits and vegetables for more energy-dense foods, and 3) improves overall diet quality and energy balance, thus helping children maintain healthy body weights. It also investigates how cost-offset CSAs ("CO-CSAs") contribute to local agricultural economies. Given the well-documented risk for obesity and limited access to fresh produce among low-income individuals, those households are the target of the intervention in four geographically-diverse states: Vermont, New York, North Carolina and Washington.

FORMATIVE AND LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH: Qualitative and quantitative research is being used to inform implementation of the randomized trial, refine outcome assessment strategies, and provide information needed to design a tailored curriculum to enhance low-income households' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors related to the use of CSA produce and healthy eating.

In the first year of the study, the investigators conducted interviews and focus groups with stakeholders to gather in-depth data related to the potential of CO-CSA operations to meet the needs and preferences of low-income households and the types of information that would be most valuable to include in the study's curriculum. Key stakeholder groups included adults and children from low-income households, CSA farmers, current full-paying CSA members, and nutrition educators.

The investigators also are conducting a longitudinal quantitative examination of dietary behaviors among current CO-CSA participants in an existing statewide program in Vermont. Using online surveys, the investigators are measuring dietary outcomes quarterly among children, and biannually among adults, from low-income households in the program. Data from Year 1 was used to inform the intervention, while data from subsequent time points will provide an opportunity for analysis of longitudinal patterns.

RANDOMIZED INTERVENTION: In the second phase of the project, the investigators will implement and evaluate a three-year delayed intervention randomized controlled trial of CO-CSA plus skill-based, CSA-tailored education in the four states. The investigators will compare changes in dietary behaviors, reported consumption, energy intake, and weight status parameters between children aged 2-12 in 120 control and 120 intervention households. Two hundred households were enrolled in 2016 and an additional 40 households will be enrolled in 2017. Participant households enrolled in 2016 will receive a CO-CSA share for two seasons and education during their first CO-CSA season (Y1 for intervention households and Y2 for control households). Households enrolled in 2017 will receive a CO-CSA share and education for one season (Y2 for intervention households and Y3 for control households). In addition to outcomes with participants, investigators will conduct economic analysis to evaluate the impact of CO-CSA for farms and communities. While these analyses are not related to the human participants, they are central to the overall project goals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• English-speaking
• Parent or legal guardian of a child in the household between the ages of two and 12 years
• Self-reported income less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level or report enrollment in SNAP, WIC, or Head Start
• Has access to a computer from which s/he can complete on-line data collection
• Has an active e-mail account or willing to create an e-mail account
• Has not participated in CSA in the past three years
• Willing to purchase the 50% CO-CSA share (can use SNAP benefits if desired and available)
• Willing to attend CSA-tailored education sessions
• Willing to make a firm commitment to three years of participation (2016 enrollment) or two years of participation (2017 enrollment), with timing of the off-set benefit determined by randomization
• Complete baseline survey
• Pay deposit to farm

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English-speaking
• Not the parent or legal guardian of a child in the household between the ages of two and 12 years
• Self-reported income equal to or greater than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level and no report of SNAP, WIC, or Head Start enrollment
• Does not have access to a computer from which s/he can complete on-line data collection
• Does not have an active e-mail account or is not able or willing to create an e-mail account
• Has participated in CSA in the past three years
• Not able or willing to purchase the 50% CO-CSA share
• Not able or willing to attend CSA-tailored education sessions
• Not able or willing to make a firm commitment to three years of participation (for 2016 enrollment) or two years of participation (2017 enrollment), with timing of the off-set benefit determined by randomization
• Not able or willing to complete baseline survey
• Not able or willing to pay deposit to farm