Food is a critical part of a patient’s healthcare and is impactful in the treatment and management of disease. The Produce Prescription (PRx) Program connects patients with diet related diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, etc.) to providers that write prescriptions for free fruits and vegetables. Patients are screened for food insecurity within their household and providers issue monthly prescriptions to meet the entire family’s recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

 

 

Dayton

This six-month program is focused on pregnant patients and their newborns, with the goal of improving health outcomes for both. Up to 50 patients and their family members are receiving weekly CSA boxes of vegetables and monthly prescriptions.

Health Partner: Five Rivers Health Center
Redemption Locations: Mission of Mary Cooperative Farm, Dot’s Market, 2nd Street Market
Education Partner: La Soupe

Cincinnati: Forest Park

This four-month program is focused on food insecure patients with diet-related diseases with the goal of improving food security and their health. This unique pilot will attempt to address the transportation barrier to healthy food access. Twenty-five patients and their family members will receive boxes of fruits and vegetables delivered to their home.

Health Partner: Mercy Health Forest Park Internal Medicine & Pediatrics
Redemption Locations: Fruit and vegetable boxes will be delivered by a partnership of Produce Perks Midwest & Food Forest
Education Partner: La Soupe

Middletown

This four-month program is focused on food insecure patients with diet-related diseases with the goal of improving food security and their health. Twenty-five patients and their family members are receiving bi-monthly CSA boxes of vegetables and monthly prescriptions.

Health Partner: Centerpoint Health
Redemption Locations: Mission of Mary Cooperative Farm.
Education Partner: La Soupe

Youngstown

This five-month Infant Vitality produce prescription program is focused on pregnant patients and their newborns, with the goal of improving health outcomes for both. Up to 50 patients and their family members are receiving CSA boxes of vegetables and monthly prescriptions.

Health Partner: Mercy Health Youngstown and Mahoning County Public Health
Redemption Locations: Lake to River Cooperative will be providing the vegetable boxes and Produce Perks redemption sites across the area will allow patients to shop with their prescriptions.

Columbus

This 3-month program is focused on pregnant patients and their newborns, with the goal of improving health outcomes for both. 80+ patients and their family members are receiving monthly prescriptions for fruits and vegetables.

Health Partner: PrimaryOne Health
Redemption Locations: Kelly’s Market, Jubilee Market & Café, local farmers’ markets
Education Partner: Local Matters

Education Resources

Cooking demos provided by our education partners:

• Whole Wheat Pasta with Local Vegetables and Raw Kale and Apple Salad (Local Matters)
• Pumpkin Soup with Baked Kale Chips (Local Matters)
• Chili (Local Matters)
• Tortilla Soup (La Soupe)
• Southwest Baked Sweet Potatoes, Simple Salsa, and Broccoli Salad (UC Dietetic Intern, Audrey Hemmer)

Additional resources and recipes are available on our Food Resources and Cooking With Kids pages.