Growing community, food sovereignty, and health

A case study of a farm-based produce prescription program

Abstract

Produce prescription programs are an emerging strategy for making diet and nutrition central to efforts to improve population health. Although they have multiple potential implications for local food systems, assessments of produce prescription programs too rarely consider the perspectives of food producers. This paper reports on a mixed-methods case study of VegRx, a farm-based pro­duce prescription program in Waltham, Massachu­setts. Drawing on interviews with both farmers and clinicians, we first explore how produce prescrip­tion programs can be aligned with the missions of community farms, including increasing access to healthy, locally grown food, building relationships with and among underserved community mem­bers, and advancing food sovereignty. Based on quantitative data from pre- and post-program sur­veys, we then assess the outcomes of VegRx for program participants; these include significant im­provements in their access to healthy and desired foods, vegetable and fruit consumption, and both physical and mental health. We conclude with rec­ommendations for a broader understanding—and assessment—of produce prescription programs, to take into account not only their important capacity to improve diet and nutrition, but also to bring together local farms, health-care providers, and communities in support of food sovereignty and population health.