Eat healthy foods, such as bok choy, from your CSA, and get a healthy care rebate! Photo By Joe Coca/NH Archives.
Health-care providers Physician’s Plus, Group Health Cooperative and Dean Health of Madison, Wisconsin, have united with local community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs) to provide rebates, such as the “Eat Healthy Rebate,” to families or individuals who purchase a share in CSA produce through the Fresh Food Connection CSA or MACSAC (Madison Area CSA Coalition).
CSAs are farms that invite customers to purchase yearly or seasonal shares of their harvest. These farms produce organic fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, canned goods, wool and more. Vegetable, dairy and egg shares are usually provided on a weekly or biweekly basis, while other shares may be more sporadic and dependant upon the season. These groups can act as a growers guild that both farmers and the wider public can join. The Fresh Food Connection even requires all members to sign a pledge ensuring the produce is responsibly grown.
The “Eat Healthy Rebate” allows up to $100 for individual contracts and $200 for families who have a produce share in a CSA and who are spending the equivalent of the rebate or more on their produce. With the goals of encouraging organic farming, keeping local money in the community and building healthier lifestyles, this coalition is certainly building a greener, healthier Wisconsin.
by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief
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