DIG DEEP FARMS FARM STANDS

FOOD AS MEDICINE

Food As Medicine designed to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household food insecurity, and reduce healthcare utilization. Food as Medicine goes beyond dietary health, targeting improvement in diet-related health outcomes and reduction in the incidence of depression and social isolation, which both have a negative impact on diet-related conditions. 

We are partnering with community-based health clinics. Clinic staff will screen patients across all specialties for food insecurity, social isolation, and diet-related conditions or risk. Providers are trained on food as medicine best practices and provide prescriptions (vouchers) for fresh produce to eligible patients on CalFresh and/or Medi-Cal. They also recruit eligible patients to enroll in the intensive Food as Rx/Incentive Program. In this program, patients participate in a 16-week “Behavioral Pharmacy” group medical visit program and receive food prescription vouchers with each visit, immediately redeemable for fruits and vegetables at the clinic-based “Food Farmacy” farm stands, ensuring maximum accessibility.