For their capstone project, a team of Master of Public Affairs (MPA) graduate students worked with Iowa Valley RC&D staff to determine the feasibility and structure of a workplace program to offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vouchers to employees at the University of Iowa, aiming to increase local food purchasing and improve employee health while also expanding market access for local farmers.

Iowa Valley RC&D is a regional service provider “grounded in community, partnerships, and collaboration as we train and support farmers, build local food infrastructure, generate new innovative markets, improve access of locally grown foods, and model and communicate the positive impact of a future food system that nourishes people and place.”

Iowa Valley seeks to expand markets for local food producers across this state. One outlet for producers of local foods is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), in which consumers buy products directly from a farmer, often through subscriptions or memberships that provide consistent income to the farmer and a share of the locally grown goods to the consumer.

The MPA capstone team evaluated the potential for a workplace CSA program at the University of Iowa as a strategy to expand market access for local farmers. The study examines the feasibility of such a program by assessing stakeholder interest, administration challenges, and financial sustainability to inform the future implementation of a workplace CSA program at the University of Iowa. In addition, a policy analysis was conducted to assess how different levels of funding for a workplace CSA program at the University of Iowa could impact employee fruit and vegetable consumption and overall well-being. The analysis focused on addressing negative externalities across the University, such as reduced productivity, lower alertness, and higher health-related costs linked to poor nutrition.

Through surveys, stakeholder interviews, and a workplace CSA policy analysis the report provides actionable insights into how a workplace CSA model could increase farmer revenue, strengthen local food systems, enhance individual health for employees, and produce healthcare savings for employers.

The team's policy analysis evaluated three alternatives to address these concerns: maintaining the status quo, implementing a workplace CSA promotion program, and launching a workplace CSA voucher program. Each alternative was assessed using three criteria: equity, effectiveness, and cost. 

The team recommends that the University of Iowa pilot an income-based CSA voucher program for 50 employees. The pilot should evaluate key outcomes including dietary behavior changes, employee satisfaction, and healthcare utilization. Alongside the voucher program, the University should also promote CSA participation to the full employee population. Providing information, education, and connections to local farms could encourage wider participation among employees who may not qualify for an income-qualified voucher but have the interest and ability to purchase a CSA share independently.

The team also produced an interactive map displaying all identified CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms within a 60-mile radius of the University of Iowa (current as of Spring 2025).