Someone told me I should look more into the Veggie Rx programs across Oregon. Can you tell me more about what they do and how people get involved?
Veggie Rx programs are active around Oregon, based on the idea of healthy food as medicine. Veggie Rx is a produce prescription program used as a medical treatment or preventative service for patients.
Patients are eligible due to a diet-related health risk or condition, food insecurity, or other documented challenges accessing nutritious foods. They are referred by a health care provider or health insurance plan.
Typically, health care providers prescribe produce prescriptions to patients who redeem them at farmers markets or for a CSA membership and occasionally at retail outlets. It enables patients to access healthy produce with no added fats, sugars or salt — at low or no cost to the patient.
Patients enrolled in Veggie Rx programs report behavioral, mental and physical health improvements while the local economy and small farms benefit via produce sales. These programs represent partnerships among local health clinics, coordinated care organizations and the organizations that manage the programs.
You can learn who they are, how they work and how they benefit Oregonians in Oregon Community Food Systems Network's 2023 Veggie Rx Census. If interested, you can also get involved with their working group.
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