Communities

FOOD IS MEDICINE

Poor diet, exacerbated by food insecurity, is now the leading cause of death and disease in the United States. Individuals with low incomes and those dealing with food insecurity can be especially at risk for poor nutrition, due to additional factors associated with inadequate household resources as well as under-resourced communities. Food is Medicine and produce prescription programs have become increasingly powerful and cost-effective interventions to prevent and treat diet-related chronic conditions, improve household nutrition security, and address health disparities. Produce Prescription programs typically include two components: fresh produce access and nutrition and diet related chronic disease management classes which help to lead to improved outcomes when linked together.

OUR PROGRAMS:

Nutrition Referral (“Produce Prescription”) Programs

Community FarmShare manages two multi-partner Produce Prescription programs in Montgomery County. In each of our programs we bring together several key partners to ensure strong program outcomes. Each of our produce prescription programs include:

A community health clinic to provide the primary care services and clinical testing (bloodwork, BMI and blood pressure) to assess participants’ needs at the start of the program and again at end to measure outcomes

A nutrition and diabetes prevention and management education program to support long-term positive health outcomes for participants to learn how to better manage their conditions and maintain their health.

Making a difference:

Based on our pilot produce prescription program with Mercy Health Clinic in 2022, 72% of program participants significantly improved their A1c numbers (indicator of diabetes) after 24 weeks of the program.

Mobile FARMacy Market

Coming soon… Looking ahead to 2024, in order to address the challenges of making produce more accessible in communities facing barriers and offering “free choice” selection of fresh produce - Community FarmShare will operate our Food Is Medicine program through a mobile FARMacy Market. The mobile FARMacy is (simply) a refrigerated truck and pop up farmstand stocked with local Montgomery County farmer produce.

Community residents access the FARMacy during scheduled weekly hours at partner community health clinics, community based organizations (CBOs), school communities or other high traffic/transit, high-need locations where fresh produce is not easily accessible.

Produce at the FARMacy is accessible through SNAP and other benefits programs and as well as through an e-benefits system for enrolled Produce Prescription participants.

FARM TO SCHOOL

Farm to school programs enrich the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by enhancing food purchasing and education opportunities at schools. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while supporting local small scale farmers and contributing to vibrant communities.

Community FarmShare partners with 10 Montgomery County Public Schools through their Community Schools program. Community Schools serve as hubs that provide students, families, and communities with needed wraparound services. Our Community Schools Liaison partners facilitate that the fresh produce bags reach families by helping with home deliveries and arranging school pick up opportunities.

OUR PROGRAMS:

Farm to School - Fresh Produce Program

Community FarmShare’s Farm Produce Bag program operates like a multi-farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, reaching 400 families during the season to provide weekly bags of fresh, nutrient dense culturally valued produce.

Making a difference:

  • Families with school children have the opportunity to eat healthy foods on a consistent, weekly basis, reducing food and nutrition insecurity.

  • Eating healthy promotes better learning, better school performance and lower stress within families

  • Consistent fresh produce access helps develop lifelong healthy eating habits, starting at a young age. Home deliveries enable families to prepare these foods in the way their children will enjoy.

Community Schools and SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Tasting Curriculum

Community FarmShare supports SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education classes in 5 MCPS schools in their Pre-K through 2nd grade “tasting” curriculum. UMD SNAP-Ed is the lead partner for the MCPS Community Schools tasting curriculum which we are excited to provide local Montgomery County fresh farm veggies for school kids to experience.

We provide locally grown fresh farm produce for the tasting classes as well as classroom materials (a photo journal of the tasted veggies as they go from seed to seedling to field to harvest… to plate!

SNAP-Ed and Community FarmShare are glad to partner with Cross Roads Community Food Network for use of their commercial kitchen for prepping the vegetables for the classes.

All of our initiatives benefit both farmers and eaters. Check out the other ways we help: