Farmers Markets, Food Cooperatives, and CSA Programs
There are almost two million farms in the USA. About 80% of those are small farms, and a large percentage are family owned. More and more of these farmers are now selling their products directly to the public. They do this through Farmers Markets, Food Cooperatives and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.
By purchasing fresh produce and goods from your a local farmer, you can help to maintain a healthy environment, a vibrant community, and build a strong and sustainable local economy. Judith Schwartz explains that when you buy local more money stays in the community. The New Economics Foundation compared what happens when people buy produce at a supermarket vs. a local farmer’s market or CSA program and found that twice the money stayed in the community when folks bought locally (Time.com). A few more reasons to eat local:
- The produce is fresher than foods shipped in and sold at the supermarket
- Seasonal foods are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive
- The travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination
Apples to Oranges: Farm Stand Basics
Farmers Market: a market usually held out-of-doors, in public spaces, where farmers can sell produce to the public. Consumers have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, and enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers and cultivate consumer loyalty.
Food Cooperatives (Coop): worker or customer owned businesses that provide grocery items of the highest quality and best value to their members. Coops can take the shape of retail stores or buying clubs. Food coops are committed to consumer education, product quality, and member control, and usually support local communities by selling produce grown locally by family farms.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”). Shares typically consist of a box of seasonal vegetables, but may also include various breads, flowers, eggs, meat, cheese, honey and other farm products.
♥ Celebrate Eat Local Month in August! Visit http://nheatlocal.org/ for information.♥
Resources
Filed under Articles, Community, Employee Wellness, Uncategorized · Tagged with buy local, Co-Op, Community, CSA, Farm stand, Farmers, Farmers Market, Food Coop, Food Cooperative, local NH, NH Eat Local, sustainable, wellness
In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s share some stress busting tips with these heroes. If you are a busy mother or woman – these ideas are for you!
It’s not easy for moms to find time for themselves. Think about all of the women you know that complete the long to-do lists, shuttle children to school and activities, care for family members and friends, manage careers and households, and are involved with the community. This describes many of the amazing women I know.
-and they know what stress is!
Women who take a few minutes for themselves feel rejuvenated and more energetic, are able to focus clearly, and are less stressed and anxious. A few minutes can work wonders for mental and physical health. Here are a few effective (and simple) ideas from other women:
Get Moving!
Exercise effectively relieves depression and anxiety. Find an activity that you enjoy and feel the stress melt away. Activities may include a 15 minute walk, climb a set of stairs several times, skip rope, go to a yoga class or practice stretching.
Play and Laugh
Laughing has a multitude of health benefits. Read a funny book, watch a comedy, do something silly. Spend time with a pet. Get the family involved by playing tag, climbing the jungle gym, jump through the sprinkler, swing, share a good book or play board games.
Breathe!
Dr. Melissa Stoppler, Stress Management Guide recommends, “Before reacting to the next stressful occurrence, take three deep breaths and release them slowly.” If you have time, sit and breathe this way for three to five minutes or more. Imagine that you are breathing the stress right out of your body.
Get Organized
According to soulgrowth.com, “If one of your main sources of stress is the sheer number of things that need to be done, being organized should help you feel more at peace. A good sense of organization will also make you more efficient. Simplifying will help you feel less overwhelmed.” One easy way to get organized is to use a planner. A planner helps keep track of hectic family schedules. Schedule time to complete routine tasks and schedule time for yourself. Organize your surroundings by putting clutter away and filing important documents right away.
A Little R&R
Kick your feet up once the kids are in bed. Put on comfortable PJs and turn on a good TV show or read a magazine or book that you’ve been looking forward to. Give your brain (and your muscles) a little R & R!
Happy Feet
Foot baths relieve aches and pains and can revive tired, sore feet and a fatigued body. It’s a great way to pamper these hard-working and often-neglected parts! It also forces you to sit down and relax for a few minutes.
Do you have some stress buster tips or ideas to share?
Have a happy and healthy Mother’s Day!
I worked for OSHA from 1974 until early 1978 and in those days the belief was that companies would fall all over themselves trying to comply with OSHA if we just visited them and “dropped off” a copy of the regulations. After all, who would argue with worker safety as a top business priority, right? The day I left OSHA, my boss, the Area Director asked me “why” people didn’t “get it” when it came to worker safety. The answer would be the same today as it was then – OSHA didn’t get the respect they should have because they made worker safety seem trivial and they sent this message by only attaching a minimal penalty to a seemingly comprehensive OSHA inspection. My answer to my boss then was “if you want to get people to take OSHA seriously you have to first get their attention and to do that you have to penalize the heck out of them”.
In a memo issued on April 22, 2010 to the OSHA Regional Administrators from the new Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels, he laid out the basics of a plan for increasing the penalty structure that OSHA will use. The reason for the increase is that a panel determined that “penalties are too low to have an adequate deterrent effect”. No surprise here. There are a number of changes that will be made in the manner by which penalties are calculated, the way in which discounts may be used, the value of the discounts and the degree to which “bad” experience with OSHA will impact the size of a penalty, generally to the up side.
Two of the most significant announcements pertain to what can happen at the Area Office level when someone requests an informal conference as the result of an inspection. Up until now, the Area Director has always had the ability to “discount” penalties at that meeting, mostly in the interest of getting the company that was cited to “accept” the citation and go about fixing the violations included in it. It was routine that the Area Director could, and would, offer up discounts as high as 50% to strike a deal right there and then. Under the new guidelines, the Area Director will be authorized to offer only up to a 30% discount and any additional discount will need to be authorized by the Regional Administrator. The Area Director will also be authorized to offer up to an additional 20% discount to employers with less than 250 employees if “that employer agrees to retain an outside safety and health consultant”. If an Expedited Informal Settlement Agreement is being sought, the Area Director can offer up to a 30% discount with an additional 20% if the employer commits to hiring an outside safety and health consultant.
The memo is available at OSHA’s website www.osha.gov in the “Latest News” section in the upper right corner.
The Scott Lawson Companies (Concord, NH) held its first Wellness Fair on April 22nd. Local businesses and non-profit organizations participated in the free event organized by Workforce Wellness LLC. This was a great opportunity to experience a variety of approaches to health and wellness by showcasing vendors that specialize in a wide array of related disciplines.
Attendees were able to view the effects of sun exposure with a Derma Scan, indulge in a massage from Chichester Massage, and taste healthy foods prepared during a cooking demo. It was a ‘first’ for many to experience Reiki and acupuncture. Coppola Physical Therapy tested grip strength and Workforce Wellness LLC screened biometric measurements.
The Dover and Concord Police Departments entertained the crowd! People realized the visual effects of impairment by wearing the ‘beer goggles’. Attendees were reminded of the importance of wearing a safety belt after taking a ride in the car crash simulator.
There were many products to sample such as Badger Balm and Stonyfield Farm yogurt. Care providers such as Delta Dental, MVP Health Care and The Center for Health Promotion were well represented. Healthy recipes, nutrition and health information were exchanged.
The positive vibe and focus on healthy living was at the very foundation of this outstanding event! Thank you to all the exhibitors and organizations that donated their time, goods and services:
- American Cancer Society
- Arthritis Foundation
- Concord Community Acupuncture
- WS Badger (Badger Balm)
- Bikram Yoga Concord
- Center for Health Promotion
- Concord Police Department
- Coppola Physical Therapy
- Body Works Martial Arts
- Chichester Massage
- Delta Dental
- Dover Police Department
- Melcher & Prescott Insurance
- MVP Health Care
- Northeast Organic Farming Association
- Stonyfield Farm
- Workforce Wellness
Consumerism and healthier lifestyle choices are important in lobbying for more affordable health care. The prolonged economic downturn has forced employers to take a close look at the rising cost of health care. Employers are instituting strategies that encourage employees to take responsibility for their own health.
An employee wellness program coupled with a high-deductible health plan, backed by a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), offer a solution. These health plans also referred to as Consumer Driven Health Plans. The underlying principle is to engage the employee in personal health care.
Employee wellness programs encourage healthy living through health education and support. Wellness program participants gain access to the tools and resources needed to make positive change. Employers that support the well-being of their workforce create a healthier, more productive and sustainable work environment.
Additional benefits of a worksite wellness program include:
- recruitment and retention of healthy employees
- decreased illness and injury
- reduced absenteeism rates
- improved employee relations and morale
- increased productivity
- overall reduction in health care cost
The health care spending account (i.e.,HSA, HRA) is used to pay for qualified medical expenses both covered and not covered under the insurance plan. Employees can maintain health care benefits and continue to access their providers. The health plan allows employees to determine the best use of their benefit dollars and decide what care and treatment to receive. A more economical approach to the expenditure of health care dollars will develop. The employer benefits from a significant premium reduction. Savings can be applied to fund wellness programs which will lead to a greater return in the long term – and have net savings.
Numerous health plan options are available and there are creative ways to design an effective wellness program. The overall goal of integrating wellness and a high deductible plan, supported by an HSA or HRA, is to save money on health care cost and promote a healthier environment and attitude.
Contact Jennessa Bissonnette at Workforce Wellness for more information at 800-544-8434 or email jbissonnette@slgl.com.
Filed under Employee Wellness, Uncategorized · Tagged with consumer driven, consumerism, corporate wellness, employee health, HDHP, Health Reimbursement Arrangement, Health Savings Account, high deductible, High Deductible Health Plans, HRA, HSA, wellness, wellness program, workplace wellness
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