Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids

Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids was an innovative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) intervention which aimed to increase consumer access to fresh produce in order to prevent childhood obesity (Funder: USDA AFRI; term: 5 years). This community-based randomized intervention trial subsidized the cost (cost-offset) of CSA shares (CO-CSA) for eligible low-income families with children, and supported consumption of CSA produce with kitchen tools and CSA-tailored education classes. The primary goals of the study were to examine whether CO-CSA participation led to increased fruit and vegetable intake, displacement of energy dense foods and beverages, or improvement in food security. In addition, we examined CO-CSA impacts on local agricultural economies, and develop farm partnerships and programmatic sustainability plans. This work involved collaboration with researchers and extension educators in four performance states: New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington, with a national dissemination plan. In addition, educational modules related to local food systems and public health for undergraduate and graduate students were developed and disseminated.

Prior to the intervention phase, formative interviews were conducted with 24 farmers; 41 adults and 20 children from low-income households; 20 full-paying CSA members; and 20 extension educators. Additionally, a longitudinal survey examined fruit and vegetable consumption among adults and children participating in an established CO-CSA in Vermont. All these data informed intervention development. 

Funding: United States Department of Agriculture

The Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids Cost-Offset Community Supported Agriculture Intervention included:

Implementation and Evaluation of Sustainable Local Food Initiatives Course Modules

The “Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Local Food Initiatives for Farms and Families” series consists of four distinct but related modules. As such, these four modules can be delivered together or you can select one or more modules that are best suited for your course. The PowerPoint slides contain narration such that students could view these on their own time, or you can remove the narration and deliver this lecture in class. 
These modules are designed to be delivered in undergraduate courses; however, modules can be adapted and delivered to graduate students as well.

Module 1: What’s a CSA? Creating a community-based local foods intervention where “local food” is a foreign concept​

• Module 1 PowerPoint

Module 2: Assessing dietary quality in community-based local foods interventions and evaluations

• ​Module 2 PowerPoint
• Module 2 Homework
• Module 2 Comparison Chart Worksheet
• Module 2 Case Studies

Module 3: What is an economic impact study? Identifying how local food systems add to the economic engine of a community

• Module 3 PowerPoint

Module 4: Adapting a CSA to open new markets for farmers and increase low-income families’ access to local foods

• Module 4 PowerPoint
• Module 4 Handout #1 – Pros & Cons of Funding Strategies
• Module 4 Handout #2 – Case Study
• Module 4 CO-CSA Case Study Worksheets

An Instructor Guide has been created to help with module delivery.  For a copy, please email Galen Eldridge at ge77@tamu.edu. Please note: There is no Instructor Guide for Module 3. 

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Curriculum Materials

The Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids Curriculum

The Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids Cookbook

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Other Resources

Cost-Offset Continuation Planning for Farmers – A Guide for Regional Coaches

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Publications

Marshall GA, Garner JA, Hanson KL, Ammerman AS, Jilcott Pitts S, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker M, Seguin-Fowler R. Fruit and vegetable preparation changes during and after cost-offset community supported agriculture plus nutrition education. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 Jun 29. DOI: 10.1016/j.neb.2023.05.002 (Link)

Garner JA, Hanson KL, Ammerman AS, Jilcott Pitts SB, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker MH, Kenkel D, Seguin-Fowler RA. Cost analysis and cost effectiveness of a subsidized community supported agriculture intervention for low-income families. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2023 Jul 10;20,84. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01481-7. PMC10332029 (Link)

Hanson KL, Xu L, Marshall GA, Sitaker M, Jilcott Pitts SB, Kolodinsky J, Bennett A, Carriker S, Smith D, Ammerman AS, Seguin-Fowler RA. Participation in cost-offset community supported agriculture by low-income households in the USA is associated with community characteristics and operational practices. Public Health Nutrition. 2022 Apr 13: 1-11. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980022000908. PMC9991818 (Link)

Belarmino EH, Kolodinsky J, Ammerman AS, Volpe LC, Brown C, Jilcott Pitts SB, Hanson KL, Sitaker M, Wang W, McGuirt J, Carfagno M, Hunsinger E, Seguin-Fowler R. Growing opportunities for equitable, interdisciplinary undergraduate food systems education: a review of food systems education at land-grant institutions and development of open-access materials. Front Sustain Food Syst. 31 January 2022. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.756584 (Link)

Seguin-Fowler RA, Hanson KL, Jilcott Pitts SB, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker M, Ammerman AS, Marshall GA, Morgan EH, Garner J, Wang W. Community supported agriculture plus nutrition education improves skills, self-efficacy, and eating behaviors among low-income caregivers but not their children: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Dec;18(1):1-19. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-021-01168-x. PMC8406558 (Link)

Jilcott Pitts S, Volpe LC, Sitaker M, Belarmino E^, Sealey A, Wang W, Becot F, McGuirt J, Ammerman A, Hanson KL, Kolodinsky J, Seguin-Fowler R. Offsetting the cost of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for low-income families: perceptions and experiences of CSA farmers and members. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2021 Sept 29. DOI: 10.1017/S1742170521000466 (Link)

Sitaker M, McCall M, Wang W, Vaccaro M, Kolodinsky JM, Ammerman A, Jilcott Pitts S, Hanson KL, Smith DK, Seguin-Fowler RA. Models for cost-offset community supported agriculture programs. J Agric Food Syst Community Dev. 18 Aug 2021;18(10):157-72. DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2021.104.003 (Link)

Lu I, Hanson KL, Jilcott Pitts SB, Kolodinsky J, Ammerman AS, Sitaker M, Wang W, Volpe LC, Belarmino EH, Garner J, Gonsalves L, Seguin RA. Perceptions of nutrition education classes offered in conjunction with a community-supported agriculture intervention among low-income families. Public Health Nutr. 2021 Jul;24(10):3028-3036. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020002773. PMC9884744 (Link)

Garner JA, Jilcott Pitts SB, Hanson KL, Ammerman AA, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker MH, Seguin-Fowler RA. Making community supported agriculture accessible to low-income families: findings from the Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids process evaluation. Transl Behav Med. 2021 Apr 7;11(3):754-763. DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa080. PMC8033590 (Link)

Sitaker M, McCall M, Kolodinsky J, Wang W, Ammerman A, Bulpitt K, Pitts SJ, Hanson K, Volpe L, Seguin-Fowler RA. Helping farmers with continuation planning for cost-offset community supported agriculture to low-income families. J Agric Food Syst Community Dev. 2020 Sep 18;9(4):1-20. DOI: 10.5304/jasfscd.2020.094.037 (Link)

Sitaker M, Kolodinsky J, Jilcott Pitts S, Ammerman A, Wang W, McGuirt J, McCall M, Morgan EH, Seguin-Fowler RA. Balancing social values with economic realities: farmer experience with a cost-offset CSA. J Agric Food Syst Community Dev. 2020;9(4):1-15. DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2020.094.004 (Link)

McGuirt J, Sitaker M, Jilcott Pitts SB, Ammerman AS, Kolodinsky J, Seguin-Fowler RA. A mixed-methods examination of the geospatial and sociodemographic context of a direct-to-consumer food system innovation. J Agric Food Syst Community Dev. 2019;9(1). DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2019.091.038 (Link)

Hanson KL, Volpe LC, Kolodinsky J, Hwang G, Wang W, Jilcott Pitts SB, Sitaker M, Ammerman AS, Seguin RA. Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors regarding fruits and vegetables among cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CSA) applicants, purchasers, and a comparison sample. Nutrients. 2019;11(6):1320. DOI: 10.3390/nu11061320. PMC6627932 (Link)

Sitaker M, McGuirt JT, Wang W, Kolodinsky J, Seguin RA. Spatial considerations for implementing two direct-to-consumer food models in two states. Sustainability. 2019;11(7):2081. DOI: 10.3390/su11072081 (Link)

Hanson KL, Garner J, Connor LM, Jilcott Pitts SB, McGuirt J, Harris R, Kolodinsky J, Wang W, Sitaker M, Ammerman A, Seguin RA. Fruit and vegetable preferences and practices may hinder participation in community supported agriculture among low-income rural families. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019;51(1):57-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2018.08.006. PMC6467078 (Link)

White M, Jilcott Pitts S, McGuirt JT, Hanson K, Morgan EH, Kolodinsky J, Wang W, Sitaker M, Ammerman A, Seguin RA. The perceived influence of cost-offset community supported agriculture on food access among low-income families. Public Health Nutr. 2018;21:2866-2874. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980018001751 (Link)

Seguin RA, McGuirt JT, Jilcott Pitts SB, Garner J, Hanson KL, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker M. Knowledge and experience related to community supported agriculture and local foods among nutrition educators. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2018;1-13. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1549520 (Link)

McGuirt JT, Pitts SB, Hanson KL, DeMarco M, Seguin RA, Kolodinsky J, Becot F, Ammerman AS. A modified choice experiment to examine willingness to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program among low-income parents. Renew Agr Food Syst. 2018 Sept 3. DOI: 10.1017/S1742170518000364 (Link)

Hanson KL, Kolodinsky J, Wang W, Morgan EH, Jilcott Pitts SB, Ammerman AS, Sitaker M, Seguin RA. Adults and children in low-income households that participate in cost-offset community supported agriculture have high fruit and vegetable consumption. Nutrients. 2017;9(7):726. DOI: 10.3390/nu9070726. PMC5537840 (Link)

Seguin RA, Morgan EH, Hanson KL, Ammerman A, Jilcott Pitts SB, Kolodinsky J, Sitaker M, Becot FA, Connor LM, Garner JA, McGuirt JT. Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK): an innovative community supported agriculture intervention to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies. BMC Public Health. 2017;17:306. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4202-2. PMC5385092 (Link)

Kolodinsky JM, Sitaker M, Morgan EH, Connor LM, Hanson KL, Becot F, Jilcott Pitts SB, Ammerman AS, Seguin RA. Can CSA cost-offset programs improve diet quality for limited resource families? Choices. 2017;32(1):1-10. DOI: 10.2307/90014635 (Link)