In 2012, Wholesome Wave — a nonprofit organization working to end food and nutrition insecurity — launched its Produce Prescription Program. The program combines healthcare with nutrition incentives, offering those who have a diet-related illness with prescriptions for healthy foods, namely fruits and vegetables.
Wholesome Wave’s ongoing initiative is just one of many so-called food pharmacies. The emerging concept is an extension of the Food is Medicine (FIM) movement, which emphasizes the correlation between healthy eating and longevity. Food pharmacies are exactly what their name suggests: Healthcare organizations and medical professionals provide patients with physical prescriptions for healthy foods along with resources highlighting the importance of a well-rounded diet. Many pharmacies work in tandem with the healthcare system, although several exist outside of the system.
