Fresh Connections Workplace Wellness Benefit
"I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with the first week’s farm share. The produce was wonderful, very good quality and very fresh. It was very convenient being able to pick it up in the cafeteria."
Fresh Connections was made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Upper Valley Region, the Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation, and GRACE. Our sincere thanks to each of these funders.
The researcher’s evaluation is included in our Vital Communities Fresh Connections Report (17MG PDF), along with a description of the design and implementation of the project, its benefits and lessons learned from the pilot year. Handouts and a PowerPoint presentation are also included here for other groups who may be interested in replication.
Valley Food & Farm launched our innovative Fresh Connections wellness benefit in 2007. Fresh Connections links businesses and their employees with local food and local agriculture through a variety of workplace activities.
Fresh Connections addresses many concerns, including employee wellness, supporting the local economy, and keeping local agriculture viable. VF&F offers a package of ways to help businesses give their staff easier access to fresh local food, including: farm stand debit accounts, worksite CSA farm share, worksite farmstand, fresh produce sampling, pick-your-own trips for staff, and VF&F resources. Program components can be adapted to the needs of different employers based on their size, budget, and desired outcomes.
An integral part of the project’s pilot year was developing a research partnership with the Hood Center for Children and Families (associated with Dartmouth Medical School and Norris Cotton Cancer Center). The aim of the research project was to test strategies for increasing participant fruit and vegetable consumption, one of the known ways to decrease the incidence of cancer. This effort was part of the NCCC’s goal to make the Upper Valley a "Cancer-Free Zone."
- Participating Businesses (2008-2010)
- Hypertherm
- Mascoma Bank–Operations Center
- Mt. Ascutney Hospital
- Tuck School of Business
- Participating Farms (2008-2010)
- Edgewater Farm, Plainfield NH
- Four Springs Farm, Royalton VT
- Gypsy Meadow Farm, Plainfield NH
- Your Farm, Fairlee VT
If you’re interested in implementing a Fresh Connections initiative at your workplace, please contact us at 802-291-9100 or valleyfoodandfarm@vitalcommunities.org.