Ecoag Collaborative Inc

FEAST BOX AT WORK TURNS A HEALTH BENEFIT THAT MOSTLY GOES UNSPENT INTO A LASTING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM FOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. EMPLOYEES AT PARTICIPATING PITTSFIELD EMPLOYERS RECEIVE A WEEKLY BOX OF PRODUCE GROWN ON NEARBY FARMS DELIVERED TO THEIR WORKPLACE AND PAID FOR THROUGH THE WELLNESS REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT ALREADY BUILT INTO THEIR HEALTH NEW ENGLAND HEALTH PLANS. EVERY BOX DOES THREE JOBS AT ONCE. IT PUTS FRESH LOCAL FOOD IN FRONT OF WORKING FAMILIES WHO RARELY BUY IT. IT CREATES STEADY PREDICTABLE DEMAND FOR MORE THAN 100 SMALL AND MIDSIZE REGIONAL FARMS THROUGH MARTY'S LOCAL AND THE NEW CUMMINGTON FOOD HUB. AND THE MARGIN ON EACH BOX FUNDS FREE FEAST BOXES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT TWO PARTNER SCHOOLS: SILVIO O. CONTE COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN PITTSFIELD AND NEW HINGHAM REGIONAL ELEMENTARY IN THE RURAL HILLTOWNS.IN BOTH COMMUNITIES FAMILIES EAT LITTLE LOCAL FOOD FOR THE SAME TWO REASONS COST AND FRICTION AND THAT WEAK DEMAND IS EXACTLY WHY THE SMALL FARMS NEARBY STRUGGLE TO MAKE A LIVING. LOCAL FOOD IS ABOUT 3% OF WHAT AMERICANS BUY. THE ACCESS PROBLEM AND THE FARM PROBLEM ARE THE SAME PROBLEM AND FEAST BOX AT WORK ADDRESSES BOTH WITH ONE MECHANISM.THE MODEL IS PROVEN NOT A PILOT. IT IS ALREADY IN ITS SECOND YEAR AT A MASSACHUSETTS EMPLOYER WHERE EMPLOYEES BUY A SEASON OF LOCAL PRODUCE AND ARE REIMBURSED BY THEIR HEALTH PLAN. THIS PROJECT TAKES IT TO SCALE: 100 ENROLLED EMPLOYEES AND 1000 WELLNESS BOXES IN YEAR 1 GROWING TO 450 EMPLOYEES AND 4500 BOXES IN YEAR 3 ALONGSIDE 3500 TO 4000 FREE SCHOOL BOXES A YEAR AND ROUGHLY $121000 IN PURCHASES FROM REGIONAL FARMS OVER THREE YEARS. MOMENTUM'S OWN FARM LAB KEEPS GROWING THE FOOD FOR 3000 FREE BOXES A YEAR SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE FUNDS SO EVERY FEDERAL DOLLAR GOES TO BUILDING THE NEW CHANNEL.THE FEDERAL INVESTMENT SHRINKS EVERY YEAR BY DESIGN. BY YEAR 4 WITH ABOUT 700 ENROLLED EMPLOYEES WELLNESS-BOX MARGIN ALONE COVERS THE PROGRAM'S STAFFING AND MORE THAN 1000 FREE BOXES WITH NO FURTHER FEDERAL SUPPORT. A COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL OF FAMILIES EMPLOYEES EMPLOYERS AND SCHOOL STAFF ADVISES ON WHAT GOES IN THE BOXES AND HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AND A REPLICATION TOOLKIT PUBLISHED IN YEAR 3 WILL LET ANY COMMUNITY WITH LOCAL FARMS AND EMPLOYER WELLNESS BENEFITS DO THE SAME.