Food Is Medicine

Food is medicine. Fruit and Vegetable Prescription programs are a new initiative that we are launching with the SNAP-Education team. Health care centers bridge patients to our nutrition, budgeting, and healthy lifestyle classes and to vouchers for free foods to support nutrition at home.

Why Have Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Programs?

For many, the obstacles to eating well are overwhelming, especially when struggling with limited resources. This program seeks to increase access and affordability of healthy foods through collaborations between healthcare facilities and community-based organizations.

As patients are screened for food insecurity, they receive guidance and resources to assist them, including an invitation to the FVRx program. The program connects the community to classes about nutrition and budget tips, as well as helping individuals to navigate programs available to support sustained food access locally. Vouchers are provided to each participant, so they can walk out and immediately access free fruits and vegetables at local vendors. For many, tight budgets lead to a dual crisis of illness and hunger. This project aims to be one piece of the solution to these issues.

Using Produce Bucks

Have you participated in one of our FVRx classes? If so, you probably received a few of our produce bucks. Great! Here is where you can use those vouchers. This list will grow over time, so check back to see if more stores have been added to the list.

Al Aqsa Supermarket Buffalo – 1350 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo NY 14211. Check out their facebook page here.

FeedMore WNY’s new farm markets – FeedMore has launched a few new farm markets this summer and all of their vans, at any of their stops, accept our Produce Bucks

Massachusetts Avenue Project Farmhouse and Mobile Markets

– MAP’s market stops in communities across Buffalo. A schedule of stops is posted weekly on their social media.  Follow @massaveproject & turn on notifications to receive real-time updates. You can also check out their website for more details. https://www.mass-ave.org/findourtruck

Urban Fruits and Veggies Mobile Markets

• UFV markets and brand new mobile market offers locally grown fruit and veggies across Buffalo during growing season. Check out their events page to see the markets and stops during growing season: https://buffalogogreen.org/events/

Tops Friendly Markets at 1275 Jefferson or 425 Niagara Street in Buffalo or 390 W. Main Street in Batavia.

3 locations of Tops Markets now accept Produce Bucks:

-425 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14201

-1275 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208

-390 W. Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020

Check out this handout for full information on how to use Produce Bucks at these locations.   How to use vouchers at TOPS Friendly Markets  

Find more info about Produce Bucks Here.

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Health Partners

Jericho Road Community Health Center’s Broadway location 

Neighborhood Health Centers Mattina Clinic

Rochester Regional Health's Healthy Living Campus in Batavia, NY

Partnered health centers are sharing fruit and vegetable "prescriptions' for patients.  The Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, commonly referred to as FVRx, aims to reach patients who are medically at risk or have a diet-related chronic disease (i.e. high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, obesity etc.), and those who struggle to purchase healthy foods for their families.

If you are struggling and don't have enough food,  check out your local 211 to get connected with resources.

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If you're interested in learning more about the program, enrolling, or sponsorship send an email to Melissa Kimbrell, SNAP-Ed Regional Coordinator mjk397@cornell.edu.

If you are a health center that would like to build a program, or if you sell any vegetables and would like to accept our vouchers, please reach out at SNAPEdWNY@gmail.com .

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Last updated August 1, 2024