CSA Partnerships for Health: outcome evaluation results from a subsidized community-supported agriculture program to connect safety-net clinic patients with farms to improve dietary behaviors, food security, and overall health.

Safety-net clinic patients are at risk for food insecurity, which is associated with poor diet quality and negative health outcomes. Research on the impact of interventions addressing food insecurity in health care settings is limited. The primary aim of this study was to determine the preliminary effectiveness of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Partnerships for Health, a 23 week grant-subsidized CSA program, in improving dietary behaviors, self-efficacy to eat vegetables, food security, and overall health among safety-net clinic patients. This single-group pretest-posttest study used interviewer-administered surveys. Study participants were 48 safety-net clinic patients. Outcomes included fruit and vegetable intake, frequency of dark green and orange vegetable intake, self-efficacy to eat vegetables, eating habits, food security status and ability to afford to eat healthy meals, emotional health, social health, and general health status. Differences in values at postintervention versus preintervention were examined using two-sided paired t-tests, McNemar's tests, and generalized estimating equation models. The difference between postintervention versus preintervention values was statistically significant for a number of outcomes, including vegetable intake (p = .030), orange vegetable intake (p = .004), eating habits (p = .039), food security (p = .039), ability to afford to eat healthy meals (p = .003), and general health status (p = .039). Generalized estimating equation models showed similar associations. CSA Partnerships for Health may have the potential to improve dietary behaviors, reduce food insecurity, and improve overall health among safety-net clinic patients.

Feasibility of Using a Community-Supported Agriculture Program to Increase Access to and Intake of Vegetables among Federally Qualified Health Center Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the feasibility of using a 23-week subsidized community-supported agriculture program to increase access to and intake of vegetables among Federally Qualified Health Center patients. METHODS: Outcomes were measured using pre-post intervention surveys (n = 9). Process data were collected in post-intervention surveys and focus groups (n = 15). RESULTS: Most participants (77%) indicated that the program improved their health and all (100%) reported that they were eating a greater variety of vegetables because of their participation in the program. Three themes emerged from the focus groups: increased access to fresh and/or organic vegetables, improved diet quality, and the importance of social support during the program. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Linking subsided community-supported agriculture programs with Federally Qualified Health Centers has the potential to increase access to and intake of vegetables among low-income patients. However, further research is needed with a larger sample size and a more robust study design.