FARMacy

FARMacy is a weekly program where doctors “prescribe” fresh, healthy, locally grown foods to food-insecure patients with chronic diet-related diseases.

Doctors identify patients who struggle with food security and whose medial conditions would benefit from dietary changes. Then they provide a “prescription” entitling patients to free weekly bags of fruits and vegetables from pop-up farmers markets held at their doctor’s office or clinic. Farmers are on hand at those markets to talk about produce and FNP nutrition educators provide taste-tests, recipe demonstrations, recipe handouts, opportunities for physical activity and nutrition education classes.

The original FARMacy program started in 2014 at a clinic in Wheeling. Nine FARMacy programs now operate at hospitals and clinics around West Virginia. Eight of those are new for 2020, funded by a $658,000 Walmart Foundation grant that is helping FNP expand its programming to 10 West Virginia counties — Barbour, Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Lincoln, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Roane and Upshur.

FARMacy News

FARMacy provides fresh, free fruits and vegetables — by doctor's orders

Imagine going for a checkup and receiving some not-so-great news—but instead of your physician adding another pill to add to your morning routine, she hands you a slip of paper that reads: 

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