The intention of the program is to prove via data collection that “food is medicine,” and that the first method of both treatment and prevention of chronic disease should be with a healthy diet.

Wheeling Health Right patients who qualify for the FARMacy Program have one or more chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. The Clinic provides participants with a “prescription” for fresh produce weekly for 15 weeks, as well as weekly cooking demonstrations and educational sessions and materials about how to prepare the produce. All participants have blood testing and completed surveys before and after the program to demonstrate how the fresh produce helps to improve their health and well-being.

Results of before and after blood testing consistently prove that both blood sugars and cholesterol improve when patients eat a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. The completed surveys show that education about produce preparation and cooking demonstrations increase participant confidence to prepare these recipes at home. The majority of the participants say they feel better, have more energy, and pledge to continue to eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables if they have access and can afford to do so.

In addition to providing education and access to healthy foods through classes that offer discussions and hands-on activities about food, nutrition, and cooking, FARMacy provides educational sessions that address disease management. As a part of this program, Wheeling Health Right partners with Jebbia’s Produce Market, to provide patients with fresh, organic produce in an effort to improve their overall health and help to manage their chronic diseases. The local West Virginia University (WVU) Extension Service conducts the educational sessions and cooking classes with food tastings throughout the 15 weeks of the FARMacy Program. Mountaineer Food Bank supplements the produce with donations of food staples every two weeks.