Produce Prescription Program (Produce Rx)
The Produce Rx Program allows medical professionals to prescribe fresh fruit and vegetables to patients experiencing diet-related chronic illnesses while providing additional support for patients living in poverty. Doctors and health care providers have long argued that nutrition is essential to health. This program now takes a food-as-medicine approach by integrating produce prescriptions into the health care system.
Background
DC Greens initially ran Produce Rx from 2012 to 2017 in partnership with DC Farmers’ Markets. The Produce Rx Farmers Market model was proven to increase well-patient visits by 54% while 50% of the program’s 120 annual participants decreased their body-mass index (BMI). Due to these results, Produce Rx was named DC’s “best food access program” by Edible DC in 2017. However, one limitation of the program was that farmers markets were only available seasonally and only during specific times of the day.
In 2019, DC Greens shifted the program to the current grocery store model in partnership with Giant Food, AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, and the DC Department of Health. This shift allowed for year-round access to fresh produce and the ability to study the positive impacts of prescribing healthy food to address chronic diseases. The Alabama Avenue Giant Food location is the only full-service grocery store in DC’s Ward 8 and serves as the primary pharmacy and grocery store location for Produce Rx patients. Participating patients receive a $80 per month loaded onto a Giant Bonus Card to spend on fresh and frozen produce, as well as wrap-around nutrition education from their insurance provider and store-tours from Giant’s in-store nutritionist. Produce Rx is designed to integrate healthy food access into the healthcare system, and to strengthen clinical tools for addressing patients’ needs.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for this program, individuals must meet all the following requirements:
Current DC resident
Over 18 years of age
AmeriHealth Caritas DC, CareFirst, or MedStar Family Choice-DC member
Current patient at any of the participating clinics (see list below)
Diagnosed with any one of the following conditions:
Hypertension
Pre-diabetes
Diabetes
Participating Clinics:
Bread for the City
Community of Hope Conway
Whitman-Walker Health
Unity Healthcare - Anacostia Health Center
Unity Healthcare - Minnesota Ave
Unity Healthcare - Southwest
Unity Healthcare - Stanton Road
Unity Healthcare - East of the River
Providence Health System
Press Coverage
Washington Post, Food as medicine: Doctors are prescribing broccoli and bananas alongside beta blockers
Washington City Paper, Some D.C. Residents Can Exchange Prescriptions for Produce at Giant on Alabama Ave. SE
WUSA9, Prescribing food as medicine | Giant grocery store in Ward 8 aims to change health care
WAMU, How Prescribing Healthy Food In Ward 8 Could Help African Americans Curb Chronic Illnesses
WTOP, From farm to pharmacy: Ward 8’s Giant Food fills prescriptions for produce
NBC 4, Prescription for Produce: DC Program Focuses on Getting Ward 8 Residents Healthy
East of the River, Produce Prescription Program Launches at Alabama Street Giant
ABC 7, Doctors in D.C. 'prescribing' fruits and vegetables to low-income patients
Street Sense Media, This pilot program allows health clinics to prescribe produce to improve health, supported by grocery vouchers
Contact
Please contact the Produce Rx team at producerx@dcgreens.org or 202-601-9200 and press 2 for more information about DC Greens’ Produce Rx program.