Produce Prescriptions

Background

Produce prescriptions are a nutrition-based intervention designed to help prevent, treat, and reverse diet-related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Under the umbrella of medically supportive food and nutrition services, produce prescriptions specifically provide eligible patients with access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Healthcare professionals can refer or “prescribe” produce to eligible patients who can then redeem their prescription at a local grocery store or farmers’ market through a paper voucher or electronic benefit card.

Our Produce Prescription: Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy

Through funding from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and its partners implement produce prescription programs across five healthcare organizations in Los Angeles County. Locally known as Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy the program aims to provide produce prescription benefits to food insecure, Medi-Cal patients diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at large-chain grocery stores. Currently, the following healthcare organization are enrolling eligible patients into the program:

Hubert H. Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center – Adult Primary Care (Currently Enrolling)
Northeast Valley Health Corporation (Currently Enrolling)
Asian Pacific Health Care Venture
LA General Medical Center- Primary Care East and West
Venice Family Clinic

Clinic Staff Experiences Implementing Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy

The Nutrition and Physical Activity program led a qualitative study to explore the facilitators and barriers in implementing Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy. Published in Diabetology, clinic staff described their experiences in operating a produce prescription program and highlighted the importance of having preexisting partnerships and programs to support produce prescriptions at their clinic sites. Findings can be used to inform future program efforts.

Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy: Participant Stories

Program participant Rosalina discussed her experience with produce prescriptions from the Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy program at Northeast Valley Health Corporation on ABC7 news. Rosalina describes the positive impact the program had on her and her family’s health, including buying vegetables she’s never prepared before and having more physical energy.

Program participant Antonio was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. When he was signing up for Medi-Cal at Northeast Valley Heath Corporation, Antonio was referred to Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy to help manage his new condition. Antonio shared his story and experience receiving produce prescriptions to improve his health on Spectrum1 News.

Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy Program Spotlight

The Nutrition Incentive Hub interviewed the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program in their successes and challenges in launching Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy. The article spotlights how Fresco y Saludable is impacting Los Angeles County and program evaluation goals.

For more information about Fresco y Saludable/Fresh and Healthy contact:

Fatinah Darwish-Elsherbiny, MPH, RDN
Senior Program Manager
Email: fdarwish@ph.lacounty.gov