Food as Medicine: 2023 Milestones
First Lady of MD, Dawn Moore, at John Hopkins. Larry Canner Photography
“Ultimately, food is medicine and is a necessary component of chronic disease management.”
As we come to the end of another year, we're filled with gratitude for the progress made in our Food as Medicine initiative, which empowers patients with the knowledge and resources to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
In the past six years, we've forged key partnerships, created impactful products, and collaborated with healthcare systems, nonprofits, and policy leaders. We’re honored and proud to deliver fresh groceries that encourage healthy living while centering dignity, affordability, and choice.
Hungry Harvest was founded as an inclusive and sustainable grocery provider with the central mission to solve food waste and hunger. We’re continuing to make good on that promise and finding ways to scale and sustain food security through the healthcare system- 2023 has been no exception!
Join us as we recap the collective efforts that have gone into nourishing our communities, one Harvest at a time!
Impactful Partnerships
Our Social Impact team has been hard at work, deepening and expanding our partnerships this year! As of 2023, we've reached a milestone of 100 active partnerships, all aligned with our mission to advance food security, wellness, and health.
Collaborating closely with Accountable Care and Care Transformation Organizations, our team set out to design and implement community-centric Food as Medicine programs, addressing Social Determinants of Health. Partnering with 125 Primary Care Practices, we delivered fresh produce prescriptions and groceries to almost every area in Maryland.
Thanks to our partnership with Westside Family Health, we reached a 95% reduction in food insecurity for participants in the program and our partnership with MedStar Health saw the expansion of the FoodRx program, leading to incredible improvements in clinical markers like HbA1c, HDL, and triglycerides.
We are dedicated to advancing food security through healthcare interventions with amazing organizations like Capital Area Food Bank in DC and Philabundance in Philadelphia. As part of this commitment, we have supported a research pilot with Capital Area Food Bank and Children’s National Hospital to design an online menu for families to select food aligned with diabetes care.
We’re so grateful to collaborate with diverse organizations, from the YMCA and local schools to health system leaders like LifeBridge Health and Adventist HealthCare, all contributing to creating a sustainable impact in our communities!
“This effort means that families will have one less health barrier to worry about and will serve as a helping hand in promoting food accessibility without financial or transportation constraints.”
A New Way to Harvest Health
In efforts to expand the inclusivity and dignity of our HarvestRx program, we launched an extension that allows members to shop for produce and groceries on a designated healthcare marketplace. This marketplace aligns with their cultural and dietary preferences and offers direct doorstep delivery.
Since expanding our reach, we’ve been able to serve those in MD, DC, DE, NJ, RI, PA, VA, NC and WV with our HarvestRx Program!
“My patients are motivated to better manage their health now that they have the freedom and the tools to do so. Having increased access to fresh produce was a catalyst that helped motivate them both to make improvements to their health.”
“Patients love HarvestRX. It helps them, and their families make better choices about the food they eat.”
Looking Ahead
Solutions for Health Plans: In 2024, we’ll continue to work with health plans to utilize credit on our HarvestRx Online Grocery Store, giving folks an incentive to participate in lifestyle and health programs like Diabetes Prevention and Centering Pregnancy programs.
Collaborative Research: We look forward to working more with the YMCA of Greater Washington, Mary’s Center, Elevance Health, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to research the impact of Produce Prescriptions and Nutrition Education through the GusNIP grant.
We’re also proud to work with Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC on a 400-person research study where we’ll be delivering healthy, diabetes-friendly food options to half the participants for 18 months. The pilot tracks clinical outcomes (blood glucose, liver function), behavioral outcomes (depression, nutrition knowledge), and compares healthcare and costs between both groups. The long-term goal is to evolve the Food as Medicine initiative from a trial to a new standard of care, fostering a healthier and more supportive community for all.
Embedding Produce Prescriptions into Healthcare: As a member of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative, our leadership team is committed to advancing policy to fund produce prescriptions and healthy foods as integral pieces of our healthcare system.
“I have received terrific feedback from all of the patients I have enrolled. They are all very pleased with the food and are so very grateful for the assistance and personal touch your team provides!”
In the News
Westside Health: Feeding Families Pilot
CCI Health Services: Centering Pregnancy
MedStar Health: FoodRx
Green Queen: 7 Produce Prescription Startups Helping Boost Americans’ Food Security
Food Bank News: How Hunger Relief is Fitting into Food as Medicine
In 2023, our Food as Medicine initiative thrived through partnerships with healthcare leaders and amazing organizations in our area. Together, we’ve addressed food insecurity and chronic health issues, positively impacting over 11,000 patients through 30,000 HarvestRx Program deliveries across multiple states. The inclusive approach has created healthier lifestyles, and as we look ahead, we're grateful for the opportunity to expand and advocate for positive change in our communities.
Your ongoing support fuels our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve! Here’s to continuing this journey in 2024!