Health Care Shares: Vermont Community Wellness through a Farm to Patient Collaboration

Howe, Lindsay S

Item

Health Care Shares: Vermont Community Wellness through a Farm to Patient Collaboration

Howe, Lindsay S

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Food insecurity in Vermont has increased over the past decade, with nearly 85,000 Vermonters struggling to provide adequate amounts of food for their families during the past year. Families living in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont have higher rates of food insecurity than those in urban settings. Unfortunately, when families are living with or threatened with food insecurity, they often rely on cheaper, processed foods that have a longer shelf life than fresh produce. This is likely contributing to the increase in obesity and chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Programs such as Health Care Share aim to combat food insecurity by providing free, fresh produce to families identified by health care professionals in the community. In addition to providing produce, participants are provided with healthy recipes, as well as information regarding safe food preparation and healthy living.