Not listed ACROSS HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RESIDENTS STRUGGLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, AND OBESITY, WHICH IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE HIGH QUALITY LIVES. THE HILLTOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER SERVES MANY OF THESE CLIENTS IN ITS CLINICS ACROSS 14 RURAL HILLTOWNS, AS WELL AS EASTHAMPTON, AMHERST, AND WESTFIELD. WITHIN THIS SERVICE AREA, 49% OF PEOPLE LIVE IN COMMUNITIES CALLED FOOD DESERTS WHERE THERE ARE FEW STORES THAT SELL FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. AMONG THOSE LIVING IN THESE FOOD DESERT COMMUNITIES, 15,300 PEOPLE ARE ALSO LOW-INCOME AND 9% OF HOUSEHOLDS DON'T HAVE A CAR. FOR MANY, THESE EXPERIENCES MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EAT A HEALTHY DIET AND MAINTAIN GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.THIS PROJECT CALLED PRODUCE FOR HEALTH IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY'S FOOD DESERT COMMUNITIES ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES BY HELPING PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGH A PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM. OVER THREE YEARS, THE PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT THE HILLTOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER TO PROVIDE 200 CLIENTS WITH A PRESCRIPTION FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ELIGIBLE CLIENTS INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN BOTH SNAP AND MASSHEALTH, AND ARE EXPERIENCING OR ARE AT-RISK FOR A CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION. THE PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION WILL COME IN THE FORM OF A DEBIT CARD PROVIDED BY THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ABOUT FRESH, PRE-LOADED WITH $40/MONTH THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON FRESH PRODUCE AT PARTICIPATING RETAIL STORES. THE PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION DEBIT CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT LARGE SUPERMARKETS INCLUDING STOP & SHOP AND WAL-MART, AS WELL AS SMALL RETAILERS THAT SELL LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE, SUCH AS THE AMHERST MOBILE MARKET, THE HILLTOWN MOBILE MARKET, AND OTHERS. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY, CLIENTS WILL GET A 20% DISCOUNT AT SMALL, DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER RETAILERS. PEOPLE RECEIVING THE PRODUCE PRESCRIPTIONS WILL ALSO HAVE THE CHANCE TO ATTEND THREE WORKSHOPS ABOUT GROWING, SHOPPING FOR, AND COOKING WITH FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AS WELL AS RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLETS AND OTHER RESOURCES ON SIMILAR TOPICS.IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH MORE FRESH PRODUCE IN THEIR DIETS, THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS EFFECT PEOPLE'S HEALTH, INCLUDING THEIR WEIGHT, HBA1C AND BLOOD PRESSURE. IT WILL ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS IMPACT THE NUMBER OF DOCTOR OR HOSPITAL VISITS CLIENTS MAKE EACH YEAR, THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN ABILITY TO KEEP A HEALTHY DIET, AND THEIR OVERALL FOOD SECURITY. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THESE CONNECTIONS, FACULTY AND STUDENTS AT THE ELAINE MARIEB COLLEGE OF NURSING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST WILL COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA, THEN DEVELOP REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM THEIR FINDINGS. THEIR REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS WILL BE SHARED WITH DECISION-MAKERS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS REPRESENTATIVES, LEGISLATORS, AND THE PUBLIC TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE IMPACT OF INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AN,D VEGETABLES THROUGH PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS. WHILE THIS PROJECT WILL HELP OVER 200 PEOPLE ACROSS HAMPSHIRE COUNTY ACCESS MORE FRESH PRODUCE AND EAT A HEALTHIER DIET, IT WILL ALSO HELP STRENGTHEN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS AND GENERATE EVIDENCE FOR THE IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD AND HEALTH. $0 4/10/25 Not listed **AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PRODUCE FOR HEALTH IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY'S FOOD DESERT COMMUNITIES $500.0k 9/27/22