Farm to Work: Development of a Modified Community-Supported Agriculture Model at Worksites, 2007-2012.
BACKGROUND
The Farm to Work program is a modified community-supported agriculture model at worksites in Texas.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Farm to Work program is to increase fruit and vegetable intake among employees and their households by decreasing cost, improving convenience, and increasing access while also creating a new market for local farmers at worksites. The objectives of this article were to describe the development, implementation, and outcome of a 5-year participation trend analysis and to describe the community relationships that were formed to enable the successful implementation of the program.


METHODS
The Farm to Work program began in November 2007 as a collaborative effort between the nonprofit Sustainable Food Center, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Web development company WebChronic Consulting LLC, and Naegelin Farm. The program provides a weekly or biweekly opportunity for employees to order a basket of produce online to be delivered to the worksite by a local farmer. A 5-year participation trend analysis, including seasonal variation and sales trends, was conducted using sales data from November 2007 through December 2012.


RESULTS
The total number of baskets delivered from November 2007 through December 2012 was 38,343; of these, 37,466 were sold and 877 were complimentary. The total value of sold and complimentary baskets was $851,035 and $21,925, respectively. Participation in the program increased over time and was highest in 2012.


CONCLUSIONS
The Farm to Work program increased access to locally grown fruits and vegetables for employees and created a new market for farmers. Increased program participation indicates that Farm to Work can increase employees' fruit and vegetable consumption and thus help prevent chronic diseases in this population.
Texas Department of State Health Services, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, P.O. Box 149347 MC 1944, Austin, TX 78714. Email: Christina.Thi@dshs.state.tx.us.
Christina A
CA
Thi
Limetree Research, LLC, Austin, Texas.
Karissa D
KD
Horton
Limetree Research, LLC, Austin, Texas.
Jennifer
J
Loyo
The University of Texas at Austin, Texas.
Esbelle M
EM
Jowers
Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas.
Lindsay Faith
LF
Rodgers
Sustainable Food Center, Austin, Texas.
Andrew W
AW
Smiley
WebChronic Consulting, LLC, Austin, Texas.
Eric
E
Leversen
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Austin, Texas.
Deanna M
DM
Hoelscher
D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013781:Texas; D014675:Vegetables; D017132:Workplace