Food is medicine: va salt lake city pilot program puts fresh produce on veterans' tables | va salt lake city health care | veterans affairs

For many Veterans, accessing fresh and nutritious food is a challenge. The VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System (VASLCHCS) is addressing this need with Fresh Connect, a pilot program funded

by The Rockefeller Foundation aimed at improving Veterans’ health through better nutrition.  The program provides eligible Veterans with a special debit card, preloaded with $100 per month

that can only be used to purchase fresh produce at grocery stores. Over the course of a year, participating Veterans have an opportunity to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their

diets without additional financial strain.  This program provides high-need patients with nutrition support through produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals, or healthy grocery

programs. Research shows these programs improve health outcomes for patients with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. According to The Rockefeller

Foundation’s website, an estimated $13.6 billion in healthcare costs could be saved annually if all eligible Americans received medically tailored meals through Food is Medicine programs. 

The Rockefeller Foundation has played a key role in this movement, investing $100 million to support Food is Medicine initiatives, including partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans

Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These efforts aim to speed the integration of Food is Medicine into national health systems.  Fresh Connect aligns with

VASLCHCS’s broader mission to support Veterans’ overall well-being. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions, maintaining a healthy weight, and preventing

disease. By easing access to fresh produce, the program empowers Veterans to make healthier food choices.  Jeff Luppen, an Army Veteran, was able to lose almost 40 pounds during his 1-year

pilot with Fresh Connect and has noticed a significant increase in his quality of life.  “I’m able to walk my dog longer and I think the fruits and vegetables helped me do that,” said

Luppen. “I hope they bring it back.” Before Fresh Connect, Luppen struggled with diabetes management and chronic heart failure.  Fresh Connect pilots in Salt Lake City and Houston have

helped more than 500 Veterans incorporate more fresh produce into their diets. More than 2000 Veterans throughout the country will access Food is Medicine throughout 2025 with support of The

Rockefeller Foundation  For more information about programs that help Veterans get the nutrition they need, visit https://www.va.gov/salt-lake-city-health-care/programs/whole-health/. To

learn more about Fresh Connect, visit https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/initiatives/food-is-medicine/.