PARTICIPATING IN FOOD IS MEDICINE INITIATIVES
Food is Medicine refers to projects and initiatives that support healthy food as a solution to and prevention for diet-related diseases. Food is Medicine projects link healthcare with healthy food access partners. Examples across the NC Food Hub Collaborative include Produce Prescription programs, pop up markets at local hospitals, and participation in North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program through NC Medicaid.
Member Spotlight
TRACTOR’s Clinical Referrals Program: Through TRACTOR's clinical referral program, 6+ local health agencies refer clients experiencing food insecurity to the food hub for a weekly bag of healthy, fresh food. Referred clients are given a code to use at checkout on TRACTOR's online marketplace, Farefield. It is a win-win-win partnership for farmers, healthcare providers, and consumers.
Member Spotlight
MWUYF’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot Participation
MWUYF’s work has made a real difference for low income, rural consumers in Southeastern NC. They have been able to do this because they have a long history of designing community-centered programming that works for their rural communities.
When NC Medicaid created the Healthy Opportunities Pilots through, Men and Women United for Youth and Families designed an effective rural, home delivery program for healthy food boxes. In 2024, they served 700+ weekly customers across 5 counties. They pair this, and their other healthy food box and farmers’ market programs, with consumer educational programming.
