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<ul class="summary-list"><li>CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.</li><li>CSA programs are selling plans that connect the farmer to local customers directly.</li></ul>Heavy harvest seasons like summer and fall often inspire planned adventures to go berry picking, apple picking, or on a trip to your nearest farm. As time has gone on, the desire for farm-fresh produce has only increased, with more folks stumbling upon what's referred to as a CSA program. Though the popularity of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs has grown with time, there's still a lot to learn, especially if you're considering joining one. <a href="https://www.drgailmyers.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Gail Myers</a> – cultural anthropologist, founder of <a href="https://www.farmstogrow.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farms to Grow, Inc.</a>, and organizer of its CSA program – helps break down everything you need to know about Community Supported Agriculture. <h2>What is Community Supported Agriculture?</h2><div type="image" title="Older women showing younger women a garden full of kale and other green produce growing" height="3667" width="5500" msid="92684347" hostid="261" sizebytes="2227798"></div>CSA programs are a selling plan that connects farmers and local consumers directly. Instead of farmers selling their product to companies or stores, customers within the farm's community pay in advance to receive a share of the coming harvest's crop. Then, customers regularly pick up a box of produce (often each week) during the harvest season. Many farms also offer add-on items for purchase, like homemade jams, eggs, milk, meat, cheeses, or breads. The idea for CSA programs in the US began in the 1960s from <a href="https://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2022/02/booker-t-whatley-gsnb57-phd-horticulture-black-innovator-who-reshaped-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Booker T. Whatley</a>, a horticulturist and agriculture professor at Tuskegee University, Myers says. During the same time, the CSA movement was <a href="https://www.nal.usda.gov/legacy/afsic/defining-community-supported-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising in other countries</a> like Japan and Switzerland. To generate a more secured income for struggling Black farmers, Whatley shared his idea for clientele membership clubs. These clubs were set to not only guarantee customers for farmers, but also help the farmers plan for the season. Today, these goals are the main reason farms across the country start CSA programs. The type of farm that often starts a CSA are the ones with many different crops. "If you are a commodity farmer, you know selling soybeans or corn, you're not the candidate for a CSA. But if you have a diverse selection of produce, dairy, livestock, or honey, you will want to develop a CSA so you can make sure you sell your crop," Myers says. <h2>How a CSA works </h2>Harvest seasons vary by region. It could be year-round in temperate climates like California, or from April through December or February in other parts of the country. Many CSA programs will offer a yearly share, meaning the customer pays a one-time fee before the season begins. Some farms, especially ones that produce year round, will also offer a three month, month-to-month, or weekly payment option. Typically, the fee breaks down to an average price of $15 to $25 per week. Members will receive a box of produce each week during the farm's entire harvest season. What you get in your CSA will depend on where the farm is in the harvesting season. In the beginning of the season, especially on the east coast, you'll see CSA boxes with more leafy greens and herbs, then they'll start to expand with other warm-weather crops like corn, peaches, melons, tomatoes, and berries. Once you approach the end of summer into fall, you'll start to see more root vegetables, winter squashes, potatoes, and apples. The size of the box can vary, too, which also impacts the price. Many programs will offer boxes (also known as shares) that come in different sizes, small enough to feed one person or large enough for families. <h2>What are the pros and cons of joining a CSA program?</h2><div type="image" title="Fresh produce including carrots, red leaf lettuce, and other green, leafy vegetables." height="4000" width="6000" msid="92684349" hostid="261" sizebytes="1003868"></div>There are a plethora of pros and cons to consider before you join a CSA program. <h3>Pros</h3>CSA programs support and maintain local ecosystems. "If we can keep farmers successfully farming, harvesting, growing, handing the land off to the next generation, teaching that generation how to do that – then we're really ensuring we're taking care of our <keyword id="11894142" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="food" source="Orion">food</keyword> needs, our health needs, and we're supporting a healthy ago-ecosystem," says Myers. When you support the ecosystem through agriculture, you help maintain the presence of healthy pollinators, wildlife, and other parts of our natural environment that we need to survive. Contributing to the support of farms through these programs also encourages farming as a continued profession, says Myers. CSAs are beneficial for the local economy too, since all of the money goes directly to the farmer. Those farmers can then put money back into the economy through the revenue they've generated. If you're concerned about your <a href="http://blogs.colgate.edu/sustainability/2017/09/06/why-you-should-consider-community-supported-agriculture-csa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">environmental footprint</a>, many CSA farms are smaller and use healthier farming practices that help maintain the land. Plus, it takes much less transportation and production emissions for the food to get to you. The produce from CSAs are also picked at the height of their ripeness and nutritional value, and the fresh produce can encourage creativity in your cooking. <h3>Cons</h3>Though there are many benefits, there are some possible drawbacks to consider before joining. CSAs are based on what's ready to harvest, so you don't have control over what produce you're getting each week. Some weeks your box may contain certain types of fruits or vegetables you may not like or aren't familiar with. Some programs allow you to swap items, but others are less flexible. You'll also likely have to wait until a certain day to pick up or receive your share of produce, so you don't have the convenience of going to the grocery store any time. Depending on the CSA, the cost can be quite intimidating. Some CSAs only offer an up-front, one-time payment for the season, which can be hundreds of dollars. It's also worth noting that joining a CSA doesn't necessarily guarantee you produce. You're buying a share in that season's crop, so if it's a bountiful year, you may get a lot. But, if it's a year impacted by drought or natural disasters, you could get less (or even none), though this is rare and some farms have programs in place to mitigate this from happening. <h2>How to find a CSA program near you</h2><div type="image" title="A selection of chives, eggs, potatoes, and tomatoes in front of a white box with the logo reading “Upstate Farms,” full of basil, radishes, and other produce." height="900" width="1200" msid="92684350" hostid="261" sizebytes="82652"></div>It's key to do your research before you join a program, especially if you're looking for one that meets certain needs. Before you begin, consider if you'd like a program that's flexible with payments and share sizes, especially if you're only looking to buy a share for yourself. You'll also want to determine whether you're looking for a program that caters to a specific need in the community, whether that be growing organic crops only, focusing on <a href="https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/ra101-section/ra101-definitions.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regenerative agriculture</a>, or serving the community with a specific mission. Some farms do all of the coordinating themselves, but there are other farms that use organizations to help the flow of the CSA. Many of these organizations work in community access, and seek out farmers they're looking to support directly, like BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ farmers. Once you've gathered what type of CSA you're looking for, Myers says a simple Google search is the best place to start. See what comes up in your area, and field through each choice depending on your goals. You can also use websites like <a href="https://www.localharvest.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LocalHarvest.org</a> or the <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/csas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDA directory</a>, though they may not have every farm listed. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>CSA programs are a selling plan for farms that connects them directly to the customer. Members of the community will buy a share of the farm's produce each season. This guarantees a market for the farm, and the customers get fresh produce each week of the harvest season. CSA programs can vary in the amount of produce you receive, how often you receive produce, what produce you receive, the cost of the share, and the length of the season.There are many benefits to CSA programs aside from getting peak quality produce, such as supporting the area's ecosystem, contributing to the local economy, and a reduced environmental impact. There are also a few possible drawbacks to consider before joining, like cost. Determine your needs, then search for a program that works best for you.

What is a CSA? Everything you need to know about Community Supported Agriculture programs and why they matter

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">BoxedBoxed is launching a new paid membership tier.</div></div></div><ul><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/boxed">Boxed</a> has launched its new paid membership program, Boxed Up.</li><li>For $49 a year, members of the new program will receive free rush shipping on all orders $20 and over, improved customer service, and cash back on purchases. Boxed will also price match for members</li><li>The membership program also offers exclusive discounts and entry to giveaways.</li><li>The company created the paid tier because customers were "looking for deeper discounts and unique offerings and were willing pay a little to get those," Ashish Prashar, the company's head of communications told Business Insider.</li></ul>Boxed is hoping to trap more customers in its square ecosystem.The online bulk-selling store, known as the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestreptalks/2016/10/19/costco-for-millennials-how-chieh-huang-built-boxed-a-mobile-juggernaut-with-100m-in-revenue/&amp;refURL=https://www.google.com/&amp;referrer=https://www.google.com/">Costco for millennials</a>, launched Boxed Up on Monday, its first paid membership tier. It is not intended to replace the standard free membership, but instead offer added benefits for die-hard shoppers."All the best services have some sort of subscription model," Ashish Prashar, the company's head of communications told Business Insider, said, using Netflix and Spotify as examples. "People will pay for that premium service if it's unique and brings value to their lives."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Boxed</div></div></div>The key benefit for Up is free "priority shipping" for all orders over $20 for members. Boxed Up members will also see 2% Cash Rewards on what they spend, price-matching for competitors, and "VIP customer service."Regular Boxed members must spend $50 on an order for free shipping, and only get 1% cash rewards back. Discounts and giveaways will rotate in and out, with discounts on Boxed' private label Prince &amp; Spring starting with 15% off at launch.The service is designed for customers who shop often on Boxed and were looking for a little something extra. "Boxed Up is the premium offering customers have been asking for," Prashar said. "They were looking for deeper discounts and unique offerings and were willing pay a little to get those."Paid membership services are increasingly seen as a way for online stores to ensure customer loyalty in a competitive environment. The shining example is Amazon Prime, which the e-commerce giant uses to encourage customers to spend more money more frequently.Up differs from Prime when it comes to benefits. Up's priority shipping does not gaurantee tw0-day delivery, thoughBoxed says on its website most orders already get to customers within two business days, and it doesn't come with Prime's entertainment perks.Up is, however, significantly cheaper, at $49 a year to Prime's $99 or $12.99 a month. Customers interested in becoming Up members will be given a 30-day free trial of the service.Boxed has recently been the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-interested-in-acquiring-boxed-report-2018-1">subject of rumors of acquisition</a> by firms like Kroger and Amazon earlier in the year, but a deal has yet to be realized.<a href="http://read.bi/retail-2018"></a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-all-you-can-eat-restaurants-make-money-2018-3">How all-you-can-eat restaurants don't go bankrupt</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Boxed, the Costco for millennials, is launching a free shipping membership program - and it has one big advantage over Amazon Prime

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Mike Fuentes/Getty Images</div></div></div>Good morning! One of our big stories of the past week was the agency change at McDonald's, from <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword> correspondent Patrick Coffee. Patrick obtained an internal doc from the new agency, Wieden and Kennedy, that just won the fast-food giant's ad business.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/internal-memo-from-mcdonalds-new-ad-agency-reveals-brand-strategy-2019-9">Internal memo from McDonald's new ad agency reveals why the world's biggest fast-food chain bucked industry trends to reshape its marketing strategy</a> Why it matters: With legacy ad agencies under attack from new competitors, agencies have been hyping their ability to use consumer data. The McDonald's move seems to be a repudiation of that trend. Is this the unraveling of the whole effort by agencies to reinvent themselves? Stay tuned; Patrick will have more to come on this.If you're new to the Advertising and <keyword id="6354777" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Media">Media</keyword> Insider newsletter, sign up <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/17574965.35102/aHR0cDovL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9qb2luLzRucC9hZHZlcnRpc2luZy1tZWRpYS13ZWVrbHkmaGFzaD1mNGU5MTEzNmMxM2YzYzQwYzQ5NmQ3N2JjNzM0NzUwMj9ucl9lbWFpbF9yZWZlcmVyPTEmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1TYWlsdGhydSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PUFkdmVydGlzaW5nX2luc2lkZXI/5d0cd5722ddf9c3bf7c8ccdfB7692cb05">here.</a> And ... the fall conference season has begun. Senior reporter Tanya Dua is reporting from Groceryshop in Las Vegas, a conference for packaged-goods makers, grocers, mass retailers, and startups, where e-commerce is the big topic on attendees' minds. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-kelloggs-approach-to-cracking-digital-and-e-commerce-2019-9">A top Kellogg exec reveals what traditional CPG companies get wrong about e-commerce - and provides a blueprint for how to approach it instead</a>The cereal maker addressed the conference, saying it's cracked the code of e-commerce while other legacy CPG companies are too bogged down in their legacy processes. While marketers often complain that Amazon is too stingy with its data, the CEO of Amazon competitor Boxed told attendees that it's trying to compete by doing the opposite and showering brands with data.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-amazon-competitor-boxed-is-cozying-up-to-big-brands-2019-9">'We like to be the friend': Amazon competitor Boxed's CEO reveals how the wholesale retailer is cozying up to CPG giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo</a>Meanwhile, senior reporter Lauren Johnson is in Santa Barbara, Calif., at AT&amp;T's Relevance advertising conference for media companies, ad agencies, and platforms.AT&amp;T is eager to get publishers besides its own like CNN and WarnerMedia to join its ad sales marketplace, and its first order of business was to announce new additions to the service. Some advertisers still have doubts about how much data AT&amp;T will share with them, though.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atts-xandr-signs-deals-with-bloomberg-and-walmart-owned-vudu-2019-9">AT&amp;T just signed deals to sell ads for Bloomberg and Walmart-owned Vudu, and it's the latest sign of the telecom's big ambition to pitch external publishers</a>AT&amp;T also acknowledged there's growing scrutiny of that business as media companies take over more of the ad ecosystem, and that ad fatigue is a problem.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atts-brian-lesser-responds-to-break-up-the-media-giant-2019-9">'We have to pay attention': AT&amp;T's advertising boss responds to growing calls to break up the media giant</a>Speaking of AT&amp;T, Brian O'Kelley, who sold his AppNexus ad tech company to AT&amp;T, apparently has a knack for finding industries to disrupt. As he told Lauren, venture capitalists were practically throwing money at him based on the mere idea of his starting a company in the area of logistics.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/appnexus-co-founder-brian-okelley-raises-10-million-for-cmdty-2019-9">AppNexus founder who sold his company for $1.6 billion has a new startup in a different industry, and VCs are throwing term sheets and millions of dollars at him</a>O'Kelley isn't the only online ad vet looking for growth in other industries. Lauren also got the news about another ad vet who's starting a company to help airlines compete with online pricing agents.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kambr-raises-4-million-to-help-airlines-manage-online-bookings-2019-9">A startup just raised $4 million to help airlines compete with online travel giants like Expedia and Google Flights</a> Other media companies are looking for ways to make money outside of advertising. I talked to the co-CEO of the once-buzzy business news publisher Quartz, which is trying to fix its membership model. As publishers pivot to paid products, it's expected that they'll have to experiment with the benefits and price to get it right. But several insiders told me they felt the program was rushed and didn't understand how it would convince people to pay for it.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/business-publisher-quartzs-membership-strategy-struggles-2019-9">Insiders say once-buzzy Quartz is on track to lose money again this year as it faces a subscription shortfall</a> Meanwhile, I got some details on high-profile startup Axios' plans for a pricey new service that will help it offset its reliance on advertising.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/axios-plans-to-target-big-companies-with-new-service-2019-9">High-profile news startup Axios is targeting giant companies with a new service that could put it in competition with Facebook and LinkedIn</a> Here are other great stories from media, marketing, and advertising. (You can read most of the articles here<a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/17574965.35102/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24vcHJpbWUtdmlwP25yX2VtYWlsX3JlZmVyZXI9MSZ1dG1fc291cmNlPVNhaWx0aHJ1JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9QWR2ZXJ0aXNpbmdfaW5zaWRlcg/5d0cd5722ddf9c3bf7c8ccdfB6b82b04a"> by subscribing to BI Prime</a>; use promo code AD2PRIME2018 for a free month.)<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-20-chief-marketing-officers-worth-watching-2019-9">The 20 CMOs to watch in 2019</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflixs-first-ceo-details-ruthless-decision-making-relentless-focus-2019-9">Netflix's first CEO details the ruthless decision-making and 'relentless focus' that could help the company win the future of TV</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-youtube-pays-creators-influencers-4-million-views-2019-9">YouTube star Shelby Church breaks down how much money a video with 4 million views made her</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/seth-dallaire-leaves-amazon-advertising-for-instacart-to-be-cro-2019-9">One of Amazon's most prominent advertising execs is joining Instacart as its first chief revenue officer</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anna-wintour-tech-startup-masterclass-first-campaign-2019-9">Tech startup MasterClass is trying to move beyond its social-media roots, so it's launching a massive new campaign starring Anna Wintour</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/invisalign-expanding-marketing-dtc-directsmileclub-2019-9">Invisalign just conducted a global ad agency review as it looks to ramp up its marketing to fend off rivals like SmileDirectClub</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warnermedia-molly-battin-marketing-exec-on-the-future-industry-2019-9">WarnerMedia exec reveals how the company's marketing strategy has changed to keep up with the audience</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Inside McDonald's marketing changes, rising CMOs, and Quartz's membership model

The pace of digital transformation, both globally and in India when it comes to audio and video consumption on smartphones, is tremendous. It is not surprising to note the gradual shift in consumer preference to consume content has drifted from TVs to personal desktops to laptops and now finally to smartphones. With over 200 million mobile Internet users in the country and an upswing in content consumption, <a href="http://www.rediff.com/business/report/tech-internet-drives-mobile-in-india-says-google/20160226.htm">smartphones are becoming</a> the most potent engines, driving the growth of internet usage in India, as per a Google India study. Recognizing this and as part of taking forward its legacy of providing an ecosystem of services to its users in China, <keyword id="3205550" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="LeEco">LeEco</keyword>, the global internet and technology conglomerate recently launched its ecosystem membership program in India. 
 As mobile screens outpace other platforms of viewing content, both globally and in India, to emerge as the primary screen, it is imperative to have a content ecosystem that responds to the trend. LeEco is the first company to introduce the concept of content ecosystem on mobile devices in India. The company’s latest Superphone launch, <keyword id="3347084" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Le-1s-Eco">Le 1s Eco</keyword>, is the first smartphone to integrate such a wealth of content into this Superphone and spearhead the concept of Membership Program. LeEco introduced Le 1s Eco at an amazing introductory price of Rs 9999 over which the company announced 10% cashback offer on HDFC credit and debit cards. In the recently concluded first flash sale of Le 1s Eco, the company sold content worth Rs 320 million worth in just 29 minutes, thereby creating another unimaginable record in the industry. This is a clear testimony to the fact that Indian users are now looking for smartphones that come bundled with entertainment, that gives them access to movies and songs and much more. 
 
Le 1s Eco is truly a Blockbuster Superphone that packs the following - 
 <keyword id="3347083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="LeEco-Membership">LeEco Membership</keyword> built-in with Le 1s Eco 
 
1. Users would get access to - 2000+ movies (in 10 languages), 100+ live TV channels, which will happen soon through an OTA software update 
2. 5 TB cloud personal storage space and *3.5 + million songs in 25 languages which will come live in Q3 of 2016 
3. Users can avail 10% cashback on all HDFC credit &amp; debit cards 
4. Exclusive deals and discounts and live streaming of concerts from all over the world 
 
Le 1s Eco gives buyers many high end specs to boast about: 
 
1. 3 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM 
2. 13.9cm (5.5) 403 ppi screen of FHD 1920x1080 resolution 
3. Sleek full metal Unibody design 
4. Mirror-surfaced fingerprint scanner 
5. LeEco Membership worth Rs 4900 per annum 
 
LeEco’s unique content ecosystem brings alive the company’s partnerships with Eros Now and YuppTV, through its platforms - Levidi and LIVE. The third premium content under LeEco Membership Program will be LeMusic powered by Hungama. Le 1s Eco packs seamless interface through unique platforms - Levidi and Live, which allow users to enjoy high quality Supertainment - anytime, anywhere! 
 
About LeEco: 
 
LeEco, formerly known as Letv, is a global pioneering internet and technology company with multiple internet ecosystems across content, devices, applications and platforms. Founded in November 2004 by Jia Yueting and Liu Hong, LeEco employs more than 10,000 people and is the world’s first video company to go public with a market capitalization of more than $12 billion USD. Headquartered in Beijing, China, it has regional headquarters in Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. 
 
With “Complete Ecosystem, Groundbreaking technologies, and Disruptive Pricing” as the guiding principle, LeEco is engaged in a myriad of businesses, spanning from Internet-based Super TV and Superphones, video production and distribution, smart devices/accessories and large-screen applications, to e-commerce and even connected super-electric cars. The company also features one of the world's largest content libraries, comprising of movies, TV dramas, entertainment shows, sports and music, which can be conveniently viewed on LeEco products, including the Superphones, Super TVs, and in the near future, Le Autos. Breaking the barriers of industries, LeEco provides personalized products and services for an enhanced user experience at disruptive prices.

Le 1s Eco’s incredible success story so far - a testimony to India’s demand for entertainment on the go!

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Reuters/Lucas JacksonAmazon is increasing its selection of add-on items, according to a new report.</div></div></div><ul><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/amazon">Amazon</a> is reportedly increasing the number of items that have the "add-on" designation, according to Bloomberg.</li><li>Add-on items can only be purchased if they are added to a purchase of $25 or more, even for <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/amzn-stock">Amazon</a> Prime members.</li><li>Being forced to buy things as add-on items can be frustrating for customers, especially Prime members who are used to ordering whatever, whenever.</li><li>Amazon is likely doing this to prevent losing money on some orders. </li></ul>Amazon is reportedly trying to limit a customer behavior it previously encouraged.The retailer will expand the items it designates as "add-on" items, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/amazon-is-said-to-squeeze-suppliers-to-curb-losses-in-price-wars">according to a Bloomberg report</a>. Add-on items can only ship with carts whose items total $25 or more. That limit applies even to Prime members, even though Prime membership otherwise includes free, two-day, no-limit shipping. The add-on designation currently applies to some low-cost items, but the new rules would greatly expand the program to include most health and personal care items that cost less than $7. The change reportedly comes after Amazon took a look at what it could do to improve the margins on these low-cost items, which it doesn't earn much - if anything - from. Previously, Prime would let customers order these items whenever they wanted, even as a one-off.Need toothpaste, for example? Here it comes, two days later for Amazon Prime members. That customer behavior ends up being expensive for Amazon, but the company was previously willing to tolerate that expense because it kept customers in the lucrative Prime ecosystem and built loyalty from customers who would use it as a go-to for everything.Prime members order more and more frequently from Amazon, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-subscriber-spend-is-nearly-double-that-of-nonmembers-2017-10">according to data</a> from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/10/18/amazon-prime-customer-spending/?utm_source=Triggermail&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Post%20Blast%20%28bii-e-commerce%29:%20Prime%20subscriber%20spend%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20nonmembers%20%E2%80%94%20Shopify%20helps%20merchants%20reach%20international%20consumers%20%E2%80%94%20JD.com%20strengthens%20its%20consumer%20database&amp;utm_term=BII%20List%20E-Comm%20ALL">which was cited by Fortune</a>.Without that kind of perk for essentials, customers have two options: either pony up and plan for fewer - but more expensive - orders, or go somewhere else. Amazon is likely betting on the former.Amazon did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment on its plan to expand its add-on item selection. Customers have already been vocal about their distaste for add-on items, as they often limit choice.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://twitter.com/SimpleSunRae/status/971906153771827202">Twitter</a></div></div></div><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://twitter.com/MadalineKirk/status/976608969484656640">Twitter</a></div></div></div><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://twitter.com/angeliccurly/status/968146290017230850">Twitter</a></div></div></div>Complaints of this nature will likely only increase as add-on items become more common, and some customers might reconsider whether Prime and its $99-a-year - or $13-a-month - cost is actually worth it.The move comes as other retailers beef up their own shipping offerings. In 2017, Walmart debuted free two-day shipping with orders of $35 and over.Target recently launched <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/target-free-two-day-shipping-option-2018-3">free two-day shipping</a> for most items in orders of $35 and over. Target credit-card members do not have a minimum.<a href="http://read.bi/retail-2018"></a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/journalist-vegas-tenold-investigated-neo-nazis-for-six-years-2018-3">Neo-Nazi groups let a journalist in their meetings and rallies - here's what he saw</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Amazon is reportedly expanding a program that customers hate

Welcome to Digital Health Briefing, the newsletter providing the latest news, data, and insight on how digital technology is disrupting the healthcare ecosystem, produced by Business Insider Intelligence.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/digital-health-briefing?IR=T">Sign up and receive Digital Health Briefing free to your inbox.</a>Have feedback? We'd like to hear from you. Write me at: <a href="mailto:lbeaver@businessinsider.com">lbeaver@businessinsider.com</a>VIRTUAL HEALTH ENGAGEMENT DRIVES OSCAR HEALTH Q1 EARNINGS: Oscar Health, a tech-focused startup insurer, reported that it reached 240,000 members in Q1, up from 90,000 in Q1 2017. The insurer also boasted 300% year-over-year (YoY) growth in gross premium revenue for the quarter. The results suggest that Oscar is on track to hit its projected premium revenue goal of $1 billion for 2018, Oscar Health CEO Mario Schlosser said in a press release. Buoyed by these numbers, Oscar also announced plans to expand into four new states in 2019, <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/obamacare-startup-oscar-will-expand-to-new-states-ceo-says-1.1077178">according</a> to Bloomberg.Oscar Health is a prime example of how payers can use modern technology and a customer-centric approach to drive membership growth and retention. Much of Oscar's growth relies on the company's virtual services.<ul><li>Concierge encourages robust engagement among members. Concierge is a platform that provides each member with a care team that they can connect with via the Oscar app. Twenty-six percent of members interact with Oscar's Concierge team prior to filing a claim within 14 days. </li><li>More members are using Oscar's platform to find in-network care, which makes Oscar more valuable to its health system partners. While scheduling their first appointment, members used Oscar to locate in-network doctors 43% of the time, up from 14% in 2016.</li><li>Easy access to Oscar's telemedicine service means fewer patients are turning to more costly services like emergency or urgent care. Members who used telemedicine to connect with Oscar's physicians didn't seek follow-up care 80% of the time.</li></ul>Oscar's performance in Q1 is a turnaround from the insurer's tumultuous 2017, when it withdrew from several states. In each area Oscar expands to, it partners with only a few health systems. As consumers, particularly those in the millennial age bracket (people born between 1977 and 2000), increasingly seek out alternative modes of healthcare delivery, such as telehealth, Oscar can direct its engaged customers to partner hospitals and clinics, driving up usage and revenue rates at these health systems.Nevertheless, Oscar's outlook remains murky. Incumbent health insurers could replicate the startup's virtual platform with relative ease, and many are already exploring these options. Moreover, the larger vendors have more robust partnerships with health systems around the US as well as much larger member bases. Because of this, it remains unclear whether Oscar Health's strategy - along with those of its ilk, such as Clover Health - will be able to disrupt the US health insurance market in any meaningful way.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Business Insider Intelligence</div></div></div>GOOGLE SISTER COMPANY VERILY WORKING ON BLOOD-DRAWING WEARABLE: Verily Life Sciences, Google-parent Alphabet's health-focused business, is developing a wearable that uses micro-needles and magnets to make blood collecting painless and convenient, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/11/alphabet-health-group-is-building-a-watch-that-collects-blood-using-tiny-needles-and-magnets-.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain">according</a> to CNBC. The prototyped wearable analyzes blood for health signals, making patient monitoring less invasive than traditional blood drawing. While the regulatory and technical barriers mean the device is likely a few years from market, it illustrates Verily's continued interest in ambitious health-related tech. Verily tends to lean on its engineering expertise - especially in miniaturized electronics, analytics, and consumer software development - to team up with medical partners that specialize in various domains of medicine. In the past year alone, Verily <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/alphabet-verily-joint-venture-verb-health-tech.html">collaborated</a> with Johnson &amp; Johnson to develop surgical robots, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/sanofi-google-parent-in-500-million-diabetes-joint-venture.html">announced</a> plans to enter the field of bioelectronics, and launched efforts to develop tech that improves diabetes management. Verily is not the only Alphabet subsidiary extending its reach into the healthcare market, as Google <a href="https://medcitynews.com/2018/04/google-healthcare/">aims</a> to leverage its expertise in AI for a greater role in healthcare. Between Google and Verily, Alphabet is poised to have a significant influence in the healthcare sphere in the coming years.US PROVIDERS TURNING TO TELE-ICU REPORT POSITIVE ROI: Emory Healthcare, the largest health system in Georgia, along with health tech giant Philips, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philips-emory-healthcare-and-royal-perth-hospital-in-australia-partner-to-launch-remote-intensive-care-monitoring-program-300646916.html">announced</a> the launch of a new tele-Intensive Care Unit (tele-ICU), a program that connects critical care patients in the US with US providers based in Australia. Tele-ICU enables off-site physicians to monitor patients and connect with bedside staff. The program, which will be based in Perth, Western Australia, is the next phase of Emory Healthcare's 2016 pilot program that deployed in Sydney, New South Wales. The virtual care program takes advantage of the time-zone difference and means that US physicians based in Perth can offer nighttime remote care for patients in Atlanta, when it's daytime in Australia. This can help to reduce the burden of evening shift work on US caregivers.The adoption of tele-ICU initiatives is picking up steam as adopting health systems continue to find strong and relatively immediate ROIs, <a href="https://www.usa.philips.com/c-dam/b2bhc/master/landing-pages/whatisteleicu/calculating-value-roi-for-teleicu.PDF">according</a> to Philips:<ul><li>Remote caregivers can react more quickly to alerts. ICUs tend to be under-staffed, and remote clinicians can direct nurses until the doctor arrives.</li><li>Physicians have a lightened workload. Diffusing some of the responsibility to off-site caregivers reduces stress for on-site staff, improving quality of care.</li></ul>While there's a high up-front investment to establish a tele-ICU unit, the multi-pronged benefits mean health systems have seen a high return on investment, with costs recouped in as short as three months. We believe demand for telehealth solutions will gain momentum as the shift from volume to value continues and physician shortages expand.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Business Insider Intelligence</div></div></div>ACCENTURE, ROCK HEALTH JOIN FORCES TO BOLSTER DIGITAL HEALTH STARTUPS: Accenture and Rock Health, a seed fund that invests in digital health startups, <a href="https://rockhealth.com/announcing-our-partnership-with-accenture/?mc_cid=fa35547cd8&amp;mc_eid=082d42a667">announced</a> a partnership to increase innovation in healthcare. The collaboration gives Rock Health access to insights from Accenture's more than 20,000 healthcare professionals globally. For Accenture, the partnership represents an opportunity to keep tabs on new health tech and VC interests in the field. Accenture has been increasingly active within the healthcare industry, spearheading multiple pilot programs that explore the emergence of digital health in a clinical setting. Partnering with Rock Health gives Accenture early access to startups driving innovation in these areas, which it can, in turn, use to help providers improve delivery of care. This will be increasingly important for the company, particularly as new digital health tools continue to flood the market.IN OTHER NEWS: <ul><li>Verily Life Sciences and the Michael J. Fox Foundation are partnering to use data from a Verily wearable to help improve Parkinson's disease research, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40569405/the-war-over-amazon-and-a-huge-pentagon-cloud-services-contract-is-just-heating-up">according</a> to Fast Company.</li><li>A highly critical Department of Defense report characterized last year's rollout of Cerner's electronic health records (EHR) system at four military sites as "neither operationally effective, nor operationally suitable," <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/11/kushner-backed-health-care-project-gets-devastating-review-535847">according</a> to POLITICO. The report strikes another blow to Cerner's already once delayed contract with the Veteran's Affairs (VA), which the VA is set to decide on by Memorial Day.</li></ul> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/top-5-trends-shaping-the-future-of-digital-health?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_content=digitalhealth_ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_campaign=digitalhealth_ctgr_leadgen_5-trends"></a>

DIGITAL HEALTH BRIEFING: Virtual health drives Oscar membership in Q1 - Alphabet prototypes blood-drawing watch - Health systems see savings in tele-ICU

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><a title_source="BII" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/52966fb9eab8ea1956a1daf5-960/bii_amazondigital.png"></a>BII</div></div>
The big news from Amazon has been the increase to Prime membership from $79 to $99.
In a recent report from BI Intelligence, we noted Morningstar's estimate that there were more than 10 million total Amazon Prime subscribers last year.
For Kindle Fire users especially, Amazon Prime subscriptions are especially enticing. Subscribers receive free unlimited video streaming and e-book borrowing on the device.
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">A recent report from BI Intelligence finds that the Kindle Fire is actually a critical component of Amazon's monetization of its digital media services.</a> Amazon's recent strategy has focused especially on expanding its video offerings, while also raising the price on Prime. The assumption seems to be that a $20 price hike won't matter much to the Prime subscribers, and Kindle Fire users, who are so addicted to Amazon content.
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Access The Full Report And Data By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today &gt;&gt;</a>
Here are some of the key takeaways on the Kindle Fire ecosystem:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">The Kindle has not managed to achieve real scale globally</a>: The Kindle line, including e-readers, took only a 2% share of global tablet shipments in the third quarter of this year, according to BI Intelligence estimates. That share will bounce back in the fourth quarter, since Kindle sales are strongly influenced by holiday gift-giving. However, due to competition from low-priced Android tablets, Kindle isn't likely to be more than a slice of the tablet market.</li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">But a massive, global consumer base isn't everything. The Kindle ecosystem will account for 11% of Amazon's total revenues this year</a>, according to Morgan Stanley, including revenues from digital content streaming and downloading, app purchases, and advertising revenues.</li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Amazon Prime subscriptions are another key source of Amazon revenue</a>, and Kindle Fires encourage subscriptions because subscribers receive free unlimited video streaming and e-book borrowing. Morningstar estimates that there will be <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">more than 10 million total Amazon Prime subscribers this year.</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">The Amazon Appstore is also generating strong revenue results</a>. Popular Kindle Fire apps are generating 59 cents of revenue for every dollar earned by top apps in the Google Play store, according to a Distimo study. Download volumes are about half those on Google Play for top app titles - impressive considering how many more Android devices are in circulation.</li>
<li>Amazon's platform is in a major global expansion phase: <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Earlier this year, Amazon began selling high-end Kindle Fire models in 170 countries and brought the Amazon Appstore online in 200 countries.</a> </li>
<li>Meanwhile, <a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Amazon's advertising programs on the Kindle Fire also generate nearly $200 million in ad revenue for the company, according to projections</a>.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" target="_blank">The report is full of charts and data that can be easily downloaded and put to use</a>. 
In full, the report: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Contextualizes how Kindles stack up in terms of global and U.S. market share</a></li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Outlines the various revenue sources Amazon has developed around the Kindle Fire line</a></li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Compares Amazon's Appstore to the Google Play store in terms of revenue</a></li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Examines the positive feedback loop between Amazon Kindle Fire usage and Amazon Prime subscriptions </a></li>
<li><a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" onclick="this.href = this.href + '-' + window.location.search.substr(1).replace(/\&amp;|\=/g, '-');">Looks at how Amazon is expanding internationally to continue propelling Amazon Kindle Fire uptake and thus creating new opportunities to monetize users</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/a-look-at-amazons-kindle-ecosystem-2013-11?utm_source=House&amp;utm_medium=Edit&amp;utm_term=M-KINDLE-4&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=BIIMobile" target="_blank">For full access to the report on The Amazon Kindle Ecosystem sign up for a free trial subscription today</a>.Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his
personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.

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