Incorporating local foods into your workplace wellness program is a great way to support the health & happiness of your team while also supporting area farm families and the local economy! The following page includes a few ideas to help you incorporate local foods into your workplace wellness program.
If you would like more information on any of the following, please contact Dubuque County ISU Extension & Outreach Food Systems Coordinator Brittany Demezier at demezier@iastate.edu | 563 583 6496
1. Promote Healthy Eating
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) + Food Box Delivery programs
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a fun and convenient way for employees to commit trying new healthy fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Currently there are four farms who deliver freshly picked produce to various locations in the Dubuque area each week. The Iowa Food Hub (West Union, IA) also offers a weekly Local Food Box delivery program that includes local produce, meat, eggs, and dairy from a group of producers in Northeast Iowa.
Learn more about how to start a CSA dropsite or Food Box Program at your business, school, or organization
Helpful Resources from Fairshare CSA Coalition
PDF: Ideas to Promote Employee Success with CSA
PDF: Example of CSA Communications Plan February-March
2. Promote Healthy Activity
Corporate Gardens + Donation Gardens + Community Gardens
Did you know in 30 minutes of gardening you can burn 135-177 calories?
Gardening is a great way to get exercise, build relationships, and can also be a great way to give back to the community! Gardens have been shown to improve health by decreasing blood pressure, reducing heart rate, relieving muscle tension, and improving mood. Below are a few different ideas to incorporate gardening into your workplace wellness program:
Corporate Gardens: Corporate/employee gardens have been established in businesses as large as PepsiCo and Rockwell Collins as a way of supporting organization’s sustainability initiatives and improving workplace wellness. In addition to creating a sense of environmental stewardship, and nutritional awareness among employees, corporate gardens also create a unique public relations opportunity.
Donation Gardens: In 2016, just one harvest at a Rockwell Collins urban farm supplied 4,600 pounds of produce to the Cedar Rapids based non-profit Feed Iowa First — enough for thousands of meals! Closer to home, in 2017 the Dubuque County ISU Master Gardeners are partnering with the Dubuque Community Garden Coalition to grow fresh vegetables for area food pantries. Contact ISU Extension & Outreach Horticulture educator Laura Klavitter klavitte@iastate.edu to learn more about how your team can support Donation Garden initiatives in Dubuque!
Community Gardens & Urban Farms
Not ready to build a garden on-site just yet? There are a number of community gardens and urban farms in the Dubuque area who are always looking to bring on volunteers! Find a garden near your company & schedule a volunteer day at www.DBQCommunityGardens.com
3. Share Educational Events, Seasonal Recipes, and more!
Local Food Events Subscribe to the monthly Local Food e-Newsletter, or check the Events tab above for upcoming classes, celebrations, or volunteer opportunities involving local foods in the Dubuque area!
Helpful Resources:
Does Gardening Count as Exercise? -eXtension.edu
Fairshare CSA Coalition: Resources for Consumers (Cooking, Storage, Intro to CSA)
Growing Food and Community with CSA’s
Shopping for Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables – ISU Spend Smart. Eat Smart.
Gardening Resources from ISU Extension & Outreach
Spend Smart. Eat Smart – Recipes, Instructional videos and more!
Dubuque Eats Well 