Vermont Farmers Food Center’s Farmacy Project, Rutland County

Nutritious food is the foundation for good health, and it can also play a therapeutic role in diet-related diseases. That’s why the American Heart Association, along with the Vermont Food Is Medicine Task Force, will be seeking Medicaid funding to improve patient health across the state via prescribed nutritious foods to treat chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

Several produce prescription programs already exist in Vermont that have found positive impacts on participating patients, as well as on the local farm economy.

One of these is the Vermont Farmers Food Center’s Farmacy Project in Rutland County. Program Director Emma Hileman says the program has operated since 2015 and reached over 4,000 individuals. Patients get a referral to the program from their health care provider and the program provides health care shares of local produce from participating farms to nine different distribution sites across the county and volunteer home drop-offs along the route as well.

“In the nearly 12 years since the program has been around, I continue to be impressed by the program’s impact. Because of our cooking programs, a mom reconnected with her teenage daughter while cooking together; patients are either off or have lowered their diabetes medication; they have lower A1C’s and significant weight loss; and have seen general health improvement,” she said.

“But the economic impact to farms has also been great. I’m proud that we’ve provided a half million dollars to between 13-20 local farms since we began and many rely on that as part of their farm income.”

Participating farmer Ryan Yoder agrees. His Danby farm has been part of the Farmacy Program since day one and relies on it for a tenth of his income. He also sees an expanded Food is Medicine program changing health in Vermont long-term.

“This could be part of the future of Vermont as a really healthy place. It could change the paradigm of health care from treating illnesses to preventative care, while helping the economy,” said Yoder.