The skagit fruit and veggie prescription (fvrx) program adapts and enhances early efforts by united general district 304 (united) and healthcare partners to provide produce prescription incentives for…

The skagit fruit and veggie prescription (fvrx) program adapts and enhances early efforts by united general district 304 (united) and healthcare partners to provide produce prescription incentives for snap or medicaid clients with diet-related health conditions. Based on feedback from participants in past six-month programs, united proposes to implement and evaluate a one-year fvrx program in partnership with peacehealth and sea MAR community health centers. The longer program duration will provide greater opportunities for sustainable health improvements. Goals are to improve dietary health of participants; increase food security of participants and household members; and improve participants' chronic disease self-management. Up to 130 participants will be identified and recruited by health care providers, who will collect baseline, six-month, mid-project, and post-intervention health indicators. The program coordinator will distribute fvrx bucks during monthly nutrition and cooking classes. Participants will receive scrip for $1/day/household member, redeemable for fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at five full-service grocery stores, three farmers markets, and one farm stand. Fvrx increases the purchase of fresh produce by low-income consumers. The program brings together stakeholders from distinct parts of food and healthcare systems and fosters an understanding of how they might collaborate to improve the nutrition and health of participants and household members. Fvrx provides skill-building opportunities that increase participants' capacity to make positive lifestyle changes. The program will contribute relevant data on the effectiveness of produce prescriptions in managing chronic disease risks, improving health, and reducing medical interventions.