Farm Share Rx Program

About the Farm Share Rx Program

When a family struggles to put food on the table, paying for healthy and fresh food may be out of reach. Research shows higher cancer death rates occur in people from lower socioeconomic status. Access to education, types of occupation, health insurance, living conditions, as well as behavioral risk factors like tobacco use, activity level, and obesity are all impacted by socioeconomic status (National Cancer Institute, 2018).

These chronic illnesses can be prevented or improved by a healthy diet filled with fresh fruit and vegetables. To help people in our community improve their diet and their health, Marion Polk Food Share in partnership with community health clinics in Salem and the Grand Ronde community offer a “prescription” for free farm share of vegetables every week for 10 weeks.

Our Goal

Improve health outcomes for individuals experiencing food insecurity by supporting healthy eating habits with weekly fresh produce boxes, recipes, cooking demonstrations, and personal connections to a local farm.

How we achieve our goal?

100 produce boxes provided to clients weekly for 16 weeks + a November and December distribution (include home delivery)
16 newsletters with produce storage tips, farm news, and culturally relevant recipe provided to clients in both English and Spanish
Positive relationships built between clients and Youth Farmers at distribution point
Pre/Post program patient surveys to document changes in fruit/vegetable
consumption, overall health and cancer risk factors

What people have said about the program?

“The home deliveries in particular have been valuable and greatly appreciated by those who were able to participate. As a clinic with patients who have many barriers, including transportation barriers, it can be challenging for them to regularly get to the in-person distribution.” – Partner clinic dietitian

“We almost didn’t have veggies before and now I can make some for my family and they are eating more.” – Program Participant

“I’m not usually a person who tries new things, but this helped to change that. I really enjoyed trying different things. It opened my mind to trying different things that I wouldn’t have tried in the past. Without the veggie rx we wouldn’t have eaten any veggies because we could not afford it.” – Program Participant

“Thank you – what you bring to our homes has been very helpful and appreciated, especially in this time when groceries are so expensive. The home delivery was amazing and very helpful for me as a busy mom!” – Program Participant

“I just think that it impacted us positive. I really appreciate the people that are doing this because it’s very needed for people who are lower income. I’ve also lost some weight.” – Program Participant