Pilot program plugs fresh produce subsidies
A pilot program is connecting a handful of Maine's farmers markets with low-income residents to show the benefit of subsidizing the purchase of fresh produce.
The Connecticut-based Wholesome Wave Foundation has launched its "Veggie Prescription" program in Maine to allow doctors to give low-income patients vouchers to purchase at least one serving of fresh produce a day from local farmers markets, according to the Bangor Daily News. The foundation is also sponsoring a "Double Dollars" program that will provide residents receiving government food subsidies and who buy from farmers markets with up to $10 a week in matching funds, a program already operating in 19 states. The foundation, along with Redington Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, will launch both programs at the Skowhegan Farmers Market on June 19. Markets in Portland, Lewiston, Kennebunk and Down East towns will also participate.
Wholesome Wave is hoping to use the Veggie Prescription pilot program to generate data on the relationship between making fresh produce affordable and people's health, as a way to convince local, state and national governments, as well as health insurance companies, to develop ways to boost the consumption of fresh produce, according to the paper.
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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