CSA Research
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) can maintain and improve a participant's long-term health. View the studies below conducted by Dr. Tim Woods and Dr. Jairus Rossi at University of Kentucky to learn more to learn more about the positive health impacts of CSA.
Incentivizing Wellness Through Community Supported Agriculture: Reflections on Shareholder Impacts of an Employer-based CSA Voucher Program
This study conducted by University of Kentucky agricultural economists reviewed the impact of CSA on diet-related medical expenses for a UK workplace pilot program. Results showed that employees with higher than average diet-related medical expenses had significantly lower expenses the 12 months following the CSA program. Research suggests a return on investment from employer-sponsored CSA voucher programs.
Citation:
Rossi, Jairus J., and Woods, T, (2021). “Incentivizing wellness through community supported agriculture: reflections on shareholder impacts of an employer-baed CSA voucher program," Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(1), 27-44. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2021.111.005
Understanding Shareholder Satisfaction and Retention in CSA Incentive Programs
This paper evaluates a a dataset of new and experienced shareholders that are enrolled in a pilot CSA voucher program to determine what variables impact their decisions to join or recommend CSA. Researchers find that increased levels of shareholder engagement during the CSA season and certain shareholder motivations for joining a CSA lead to a higher likelihood of joining a CSA in the future.
Citation:
Rossi, Jairus J., and Woods, T, (2020). “Undertanding Shareholder Satisfaction and Retention in CSA Incentive Programs, Food Distribution Research Society, 51(3),16-40.
Diet-Related Medical Expenditure Impacts of a CSA Voucher Program
This study conducted by University of Kentucky agricultural economists reviewed the impact of CSA on diet-related medical expenses for a UK workplace pilot program. Results showed that employees with higher than average diet-related medical expenses had significantly lower expenses the 12 months following the CSA program. Research suggests a return on investment from employer-sponsored CSA voucher programs.
Citation:
Rossi, Jairus J., and Timothy A. Woods, (2018), “Diet Related Medical Expenditure Impacts of a CSA Voucher Program,” Agricultural Economic Staff Paper #497.
Impacts of a CSA Voucher Program on Food Lifestyle Behaviors: Evidence from an Employer-Sponsored Pilot Program
This research evaluated the behavior change of University of Kentucky employees enrolled in an employer-sponsored CSA voucher program. Survey data showed that CSA was a strong factor to encourage participants to cook more at home, eat less processed food, and increase daily servings of fruits and vegetables
Citation:
Rossi, Jairus J., Timothy A. Woods, and James E. Allen IV (2017), “Impacts of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Voucher Program on Food Lifestyle Behaviors: Evidence from an Employer-Sponsored Pilot Program," Sustainability, 1543, August 2017. doi:10.3390/su9091543
CSA Shareholder Food Lifestyle Behaviors: A Comparison Across Consumer Groups
Researchers evaluated four distinctly different consumers groups and found that CSA members display significant differences related to consuming fresh produce, eating out less, interest in nutrition, and in general assessments of health.
Citation:
Allen, James, IV, Jairus Rossi, Timothy Woods, Alison Davis, (2016) “Do community supported agriculture programmes encourage change to food lifestyle behaviours and health outcomes? New evidence from shareholders,” International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, doi: 10.1080/14735903.2016.1177866.
Do Community Supported Agriculture Programmes Encourage Change to Food Lifestyle Behaviours and Health Outcomes? New Evidence from Shareholders
In this study a survey was sent to members of three different CSA programs in the Lexington, KY area. The results strongly suggest that CSA has the potential to positively impact members food lifestyle behaviors and those participants that start CSA in poor health exhibit the most change overall.
Citation:
Allen, James, IV, Jairus Rossi, Timothy Woods, Alison Davis, (2016) “Do community supported agriculture programmes encourage change to food lifestyle behaviours and health outcomes? New evidence from shareholders,” International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, doi: 10.1080/14735903.2016.1177866.