then our data can be used to argue that food is indeed health care and should be treated as such,” she said. The VA does not have the authority to pay for food that goes into its food hubs, so it leans on its partners, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, to purchase food for its food security initiatives. Growers are also working to advance the Food is Medicine movement. Steve Brazeel, Founder and CEO of SunTerra Produce, started Project Food Box during the pandemic. The program has since evolved into medically tailored food boxes for MediCal. Growers know that their product provides health benefits. Making the case to implement resources to ensure that people have access to healthy food with government support is a process to realize a solution. Efforts like the VA’s are gearing up to make that happen, but the goal still requires momentum. But one thing is undeniable: you can’t have food as a prescription without growers. These programs are an opportunity to strengthen the mutually beneficial system of creating a greater demand for growers' products and supporting the health of the population. No one can buy time, but actions like healthy eating can be a way to invest in the potential payout of more of it. There are ways to ensure equitable distribution of this wealth. Growers are a key component in supplying the tools to get there and are an important component of the chain required to share these health benefits. The systems are beginning to take form, but there is still plenty to do to make it a reality for more people.
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30 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2024
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