Santa Clara County wants its employees to put down the French
fries and pick up a head of lettuce to reduce health insurance
costs and at the same time promote healthy eating.
Santa Clara County wants its employees to put down the French fries and pick up a head of lettuce to reduce health insurance costs and at the same time promote healthy eating.
The county board of supervisor’s President Ken Yeager, a consistent advocate of health and wellness, including the recent ban of toys at fast food restaurants in unincorporated areas that was deemed “symbolic,” once again tried to move the county toward a more healthy lifestyle with the Community Supported Agriculture program.
The county is the first local government agency to offer farm fresh fruits and vegetables directly to its workers.
“I know that many employees don’t have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables and farms eggs,” Yeager said. “I hope that this will make it easier for them to plan healthier meals for their families and avoid fast foods.”
The produce program comes at no cost to the county because it only facilitates the giving and receiving of the produce boxes. On a weekly basis, employees have the opportunity to order a produce box from JP Organics in Salinas, which delivers it to the county headquarters for pick up. Each box costs from $23 to $30 if fresh eggs are included and has enough fruits and vegetables for two people for a week.
For staff, delivery to the county office is convenient and also provides regular, reliable customers for the local farmers.
JP Perez, owner of JP Organics, said by Thursday he had 200 subscribers to the program – a big leap from his 400 regular customers.
“We started with just one acre and it grew into the program of delivering produce to your door or drop off points like at the county building in San Jose,” Perez said. He started the family business in the fall of 2006.
What’s in the box changes weekly, Perez said, depending on what produce is in season. This week customers will find plums, strawberries, potatoes, carrots, green beans, cabbage, basil and a few others. JP Organics has also brought local produce to San Jose State University, Santa Clara University and Stanford University.
Yeager said he hopes other agencies will follow the county’s lead.
“Employee wellness initiatives increase productivity and can ultimately lower health care-related costs,” Yeager said. “As an employer, the county is making an important investment by promoting better worker health.”
