Research

Below you can see the data that is driving this project forward. We start with data that shows the needs in the Grove Park community. We then review the existing research that shows the type of impact Produce Prescription Programs can make.

Grove Park has a demonstrated need for a Produce Prescription Program.

3 miles is the distance to the nearest grocery store.

The 6th most common reason for hospitalization is Diabetes.

81% of residents say that access to fresh food is their top health concern.

15% of community members exhibit poor mental health.

Produce Prescription Research demonstrates health benefits to the communities where they operate.

Berkowitz SA, O’Neill J, Sayer E, et al. Health center-based community-supported agriculture: An RCT. Am J Prev Med. 2019;57(6 Suppl 1):S55-S64. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.07.015.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on patients with obesity. The study found that on average, participants of the program significantly improved their Healthy Eating Index score.

Bryce R, Guajardo C, Ilarraza D, Milgrom N, Pike D, Savoie K, Valbuena F, Miller-Matero LR. Participation in a farmers' market fruit and vegetable prescription program at a federally qualified health center improves hemoglobin A1C in low income uncontrolled diabetics. Prev Med Rep. 2017 Jun 27;7:176-179. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.06.006. PMID: 28702315; PMCID: PMC5496208.

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program on the health of low-income patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The study found that participation in the produce prescription program lead to a significant decrease in patients' HbA1C.

Bryce R, Wolfson JA, Cohen A, et al. A pilot randomized controlled trial of a fruit and vegetable prescription program at a Federally Qualified Health Center in low-income uncontrolled diabetics. Prev Med Rep. 2021;23(101410):101410. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101410.

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program on the HbA1c of patients with high HbA1c. The study found that participation in the produce prescription program lead to a significant decrease in patients' HbA1C.

Cavanagh M, Jurkowski J, Bozlak C, Hastings J, Klein A. Veggie Rx: an outcome evaluation of a healthy foodincentive programme. Public Health Nutr. 2017;20(14):2636-2641. doi:10.1017/s1368980016002081

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on low income adults with hypertension, obesity and/or diabetes. The study found that on average, participants significantly decreased their BMI.

Fischer L, Bodrick N, Mackey ER, McClenny A, Dazelle W, McCarron K, Mork T, Farmer N, Haemer M, Essel K. Feasibility of a Home-Delivery Produce Prescription Program to Address Food Insecurity and Diet Quality in Adults and Children. Nutrients. 2022 May 10;14(10):2006. doi: 10.3390/nu14102006. PMID: 35631144; PMCID: PMC9144615.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with nutrition education had on the quality of life of families living with food insecurity in an under-resourced community. The study found that on average, participants of the program reported significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake, reduced food hardship, increased economic flexibility and increased opportunities for family bonding.

Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program: Design and Evaluation of a Program for Families of Varying Socioeconomic Status Chrisinger, AshleyWetter, A. et al. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 48, Issue 7, S57

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program where doctors gave patients fruit and vegetable vouchers to redeem at farmer's markets. The study found that this program increased the fruit and vegetable intake of children, and was especially effective for families that were already familiar with local farmer's markets.

Hager K, Du M, Li Z, Mozaffarian D, Chui K, Shi P, Ling B, Cash SB, Folta SC, Zhang FF. Impact of Produce Prescriptions on Diet, Food Security, and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes: A Multisite Evaluation of 9 Produce Prescription Programs in the United States. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2023 Sep;16(9):e009520. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.122.009520. Epub 2023 Aug 29. PMID: 37641928; PMCID: PMC10529680.

This study evaluated the impact of produce prescription programs by looking at nine programs around the United States. The study showed that participation in these programs was associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake, decreased food-insecurity, and improved biometrics such as reduced BMI, HbA1c levels and blood pressure.

Lyonnais MJ, Rafferty AP, Spratt S, Jilcott Pitts S. A Produce Prescription Program in Eastern North Carolina Results in Increased Voucher Redemption Rates and Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Participants. Nutrients. 2022 Jun 11;14(12):2431. doi: 10.3390/nu14122431. PMID: 35745161; PMCID: PMC9229115.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on the eating habits of people living in a community where it was hard to access fresh produce. The study found that on average participants of the produce prescription program ate significantly more fruit when they received produce vouchers.

Marcinkevage J, Auvinen A, Nambuthiri S. Washington State’s fruit and vegetable prescription program: Improving affordability of healthy foods for low-income patients. Prev Chronic Dis. 2019;16(180617):E91. doi:10.5888/ pcd16.180617.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on people enrolled in SNAP. The study found that on average, participants reported eating more fruits and vegetables, managing their health conditions better and having more success meeting their diet goals.

Mayfield, Carlene A. PhD, MPH; Robinson-Taylor, Tanya MHA; Rifkin, Danielle BS; Harris, Mamie-Eleanor MPH. A Clinical-Community Partnership to Address Food Insecurity and Reduce Emergency Department Utilization Among Medicaid-Insured Patients in North Carolina. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 30(1):p 133-139, January/February 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001821

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on the emergency department utilization of patients living with a history of emergency department utilization. The study found that overall, after participating in the produce prescription program participants significantly reduced their emergency department utilization.

Omar JY, Heidemann D, Blum-Alexander B, et al. Fresh prescription: Improving nutrition education and access to fresh produce in Detroit. J Gen Intern Med. 2017;32(2):S752. https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/ administration_mtgabstracts/1.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with nutrition education had on patients with BMI > 25. The study found that on average, participants reported increases in their daily fruit and vegetable intake. Some patients had accompanying weight loss and improvements in blood pressure.

Ridberg RA, Bell JF, Merritt KE, Harris DM, Young HM, Tancredi DJ. Effect of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on Children's Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. Prev Chronic Dis. 2019 Jun 13;16:E73. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180555. PMID: 31198165; PMCID: PMC6583818.

This study examined the impact of produce prescription programs on the fruit and vegetable consumption of children in low-income communities who are overweight or have obesity. The study found that produce prescription programs significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake of the children studied.

Ridberg RA, Marpadga S, Akers MM, Bell JF, Seligman HK. Fruit and vegetable vouchers in pregnancy: Preliminary impact on diet & food security. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2021;16(2):149-163. doi:10.1080/19320248.20 20.1778593.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on pregnant adults enrolled in WIC. The study found that on average, participants of the program significantly increased their food security, average intake of fruits and vegetables and had reduced odds of preterm delivery.

Sato Imuro SE, Sabharwal A, Conneely C, Glantz N, Bevier W, Barua S, Pai A, Larez A, Kerr D. Temporal changes in bio-behavioral and glycemic outcomes following a produce prescription program among predominantly Hispanic/Latino adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes. Heliyon. 2023 Jul 20;9(8):e18440. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18440. PMID: 37533982; PMCID: PMC10391944.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on the health of patients living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes. The study found that on average participants of the produce prescription program significantly reduced their HbA1C and systolic blood pressure, while reporting improved sleep, mood, pain, and measures of depression, anxiety and stress.

Saxe-Custack A, LaChance J, Hanna-Attisha M. Child Consumption of Whole Fruit and Fruit Juice Following Six Months of Exposure to a Pediatric Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program. Nutrients. 2019 Dec 20;12(1):25. doi: 10.3390/nu12010025. PMID: 31877635; PMCID: PMC7019436.

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program on whole fruit and fruit juice consumption in children living in an urban food desert community. The study found that children significantly increased their whole fruit consumption, while potentially decreasing their consumption of fruit juices.

Slagel N, Newman T, Sanville L, Dallas J, Cotto-Rivera E, Moore J, Roberts Mph A, Sun Lee J. Effects of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program With Expanded Education for Low-Income Adults. Health Educ Behav. 2022 May 10:10901981221091926. doi: 10.1177/10901981221091926. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35535592.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with nutrition education had on the quality of life of low income patient populations. The study found that on average, participants of the program significantly increased their intake of dark green vegetables, and improved their ability to afford their utilities.

Slagel N, Thompson JJ, Lee JS. Produce Prescriptions and Nutrition Education Improve Experiences and Perceptions of Farm Direct Settings in Adults With Low Income. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022 Nov;54(11):1011-1023. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.08.010. PMID: 36357040.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with nutrition education had on low income patients with diet related conditions. The study found that on average, participants of the program significantly increased their fruit and vegetable intake.

Stroud B, Jacobs MM, Palakshappa D, Sastre LR. A Rural Delivery-Based Produce Prescription Intervention Improves Glycemic Control and Stress. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 Nov;55(11):803-814. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.006. Epub 2023 Sep 22. PMID: 37737814.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with culturally tailored recipes had on the health and habits of patients living with type 2 diabetes in under-resourced communities. The study found that on average, participants of the produce prescription program significantly reduced their HbA1c and perceived stress.

Trapl ES, Smith S, Joshi K, Osborne A, Benko M, Matos AT, Bolen S. Dietary Impact of Produce Prescriptions for Patients With Hypertension. Prev Chronic Dis. 2018 Nov 15;15:E138. doi: 10.5888/pcd15.180301. PMID: 30447106; PMCID: PMC6266424.

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program on dietary behaviors of hypertensive adults who screened positive for food insecurity. The study found that study participants significantly increased their fruit and vegetable consumption and significantly decreased their fast food consumption over the course of the study.

Veldheer S, Scartozzi C, Bordner CR, et al. Impact of a prescription produce program on diabetes and cardiovascular risk outcomes. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021;53(12):1008-1017. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.07.005.

This study examined the impact of a produce prescription program on the health of patients type 2 diabetes. The study found that participation in the produce prescription program lead to a significant decrease in patients' HbA1C and was associated with a change in patients diabetes medication.

Watt TT, Appel L, Lopez V, Flores B, Lawhon B. A primary care-based early childhood nutrition intervention: Evaluation of a pilot program serving low-income Hispanic women. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2015;2(4):537-547. doi:10.1007/s40615-015-0102-2.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program paired with nutrition education had on low-income pregnant women. The study found that on average, participants reported significant improvements in diet, exercise and depression. Infants were more likely to pass the ages and stages development screen.

York B, Kujan M, Conneely C, Glantz N, Kerr D. Farming for Life: Pilot assessment of the impact of medical prescriptions for vegetables on health and food security among Latino adults with type 2 diabetes. Nutr Health. 2020;26(1):9-12. doi:10.1177/0260106019898995.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on patients with type 2 diabetes. The study found that on average, participants of the program significantly reduced their systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Zimmer R, Strahley A, Weiss J, McNeill S, McBride AS, Best S, Harrison D, Montez K. Exploring Perceptions of a Fresh Food Prescription Program during COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 28;19(17):10725. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710725. PMID: 36078442; PMCID: PMC9518155.

This study examined the impact a produce prescription program had on the quality of life of people living with food insecurity. The study found that on average, participants of the program reported that the program promoted healthy dietary habits, improved access to high-quality foods, improved well-being, and enhanced financial well-being.