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Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Programs in Georgia

Learn about the impact of Georgia's innovative Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Programs, providing access to fresh, healthy produce for those in need. Discover the success stories and benefits for participants and communities.

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Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Programs in Georgia

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  1. Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Programs in Georgia Rachael Ward Nutrition Director ACCESS

  2. Wholesome Wave Georgia • Statewide network partner of Wholesome Wave • Separate 501c3 • Mission: Increase access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food for all Georgians • Main programs: • Georgia Fresh for Less • Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program (now Georgia Food for Health) • SNAP enrollment

  3. Food Insecurity & Chronic Disease in Georgia • 1.4 million Georgians receive SNAP benefits every month • 1.1 million Georgians have diabetes • 3.4 million Georgians have hypertension • 1 in 5 Georgians are food insecure • 30% of adults are obese • 1 in 4 Georgia children are food insecure • 35% of children obese

  4. Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) • Launched the first FVRx program in the southeast in 2015 • Affordable access to fruits & vegetables and healthy eating through partnership with healthcare providers, community organizations and fresh produce retailers • Evidence based model of preventative healthcare with a demonstrated impact, resulting in healthier communities, food systems, and local economies

  5. 2018 FVRx Sites Athens Nurses Clinic Harrisburg Family Clinic Grady Primary Care Clinic Grady Asa Yancy Health Center Grady Diabetes Clinic (2 cohorts) Grady Ponce de Leon Center Good Samaritan Health Center (2 cohorts)

  6. Model • Target audience: • Patients with food insecurity & diet related chronic illnesses • Duration: • 6 months (May-Oct) • Components: • 6 weeks cooking education • 6 monthly clinic visits • Weekly Rx redemption

  7. Cooking Education • Different curriculums by site • Front loaded in first 6 weeks • Focused on cooking healthy on a budget • Emphasis on fresh and local foods • Nutrition education wrapped in • Gift of a major piece of cooking equipment at the end (crockpot, food processor, etc)

  8. Monthly Clinic Visits • Vitals taken: height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure • Healthy living class • Peer support • Goal setting • Supportive classes (budgeting, meal prep, gardening, etc) • Prescriptions given out for the month

  9. Weekly F&V Prescriptions • $1/household member/day (family of 4 received $28/week) • Only to be spent on fresh fruits & veggies • Written by a healthcare professional (PA, dietician, etc) • Redeemed with local farmers at: • Farmers markets, on site farm stands, Marta markets, CSA boxes • Paper prescriptions given and exchanged for tokens at market • Assistance with transportation to markets

  10. Evaluation • Pre & Post surveys • Demographics • Knowledge, attitudes, practices around healthy eating and local foods • F&V consumption • Biometric measurements (A1c, Triglycerides, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, heart rate) • Monthly surveys • BMI, BP, waist circumference, F&V consumption • 6 months post • Reunion & activity • Repeat post survey • Focus groups & interviews

  11. Retention • Needed to attend at least 3/6 monthly clinic visits and complete pre & post surveys • Reminder texts and calls each week • Peer support • Cooking equipment incentives • Peer champions • Transportation assistance to attend classes and redeem vouchers • Retention rates ranged from 48% to 91%

  12. 2017 Evaluation Results: Snapshot $47,376 3.1 5.1 219 fruit & vegetable prescriptions redeemed More servings of fruit consumed each week on average More servings of vegetables consumed each week on average Households enrolled 10.6% 75-89% 5% decrease in waist circumference on average decrease in food insecurity indicators decrease in Body Mass Index on average

  13. 2017 Evaluation Results: Demographics

  14. 2017 Evaluation Results: Food Security

  15. 2017 Evaluation Results: Barriers to Consumption

  16. 2017 Evaluation Results: Knowledge 0 – No knowledge 1- Little knowledge 2 - Some knowledge 3 – Very knowledgeable *significant increases in all sites

  17. 2017 Evaluation Results: Consumption • Statistically significant increases: Other vegetable consumption, produce shopping frequency

  18. 2017 Evaluation Results: Biometrics • BMI decrease by 10.6% on average • Waist circumference decrease by 5% on average • Systolic BP decrease 8.8% on average • Diastolic BP decrease 2.2% on average

  19. 2017 Evaluation Results: Participant Feedback “The best part of the program was the visits to the market, and the warmth of the people in the market. It was one of the best experiences I've had. I also liked the way they taught us how to cook, thanks to that now I cook healthier. And the group of people that make up the program I liked”

  20. Thank you! Questions? Rachael Ward Nutrition Director ACCESS rward@accesshelps.org 541-774-4320

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