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Produce Prescription Landscape Analysis

In partnership with Cleveland Fresh, LLC, the Swetland Center conducted a produce prescription landscape analysis in 2024 to identify assets and gaps related to produce prescription programs. Our goal was to interview at least 30 individuals:

    • Active produce prescription program implementers

    • Patients who have participated in a produce prescription or other food as medicine program in the past year

    • Local growers, nutrition educators, and food product makers

We will leverage the local farming and food hub networks to connect produce prescription programs to local food sources.

Who participated?
Who participated? 16 people: 5 local food leaders (e.g., nutrition educators, farmers, and chefs) and 11 PRx implementers (hospital-based and community-based) in Ohio. When were the data collected? November 2024 - January 2025. Current PRx Trends in the Region On average, PRx programs in Cuyahoga County serve each week. 82 patients 70% additional services (e.g., education, deliveries, and equipment for food preparation). of programs surveyed offer Most programs (n=8) see patients for 7-12 months Other PRx p

16 people participated in the interviews: 5 local food leaders and 11 PRx program implementers in Ohio. Interviews were conducted between November 2024 - January 2025. Of the programs surveyed, 

  • 50% partner with Black and Hispanic food leaders to culturally tailor their programming.
  • 70% offer additional services (e.g. education, deliveries, and equipment for food preparation).
  • Most programs (n=8) see patients for 7-12 months.
  • On average, PRx programs in Cuyahoga County serve 82 patients per week.
What is needed?
What is needed? Support for Tailoring PRx Approaches for Increased Impact. For Patients: Provide cooking tools Offer materials in different languages. For Local Food Leaders: Offer collective funding opportunities Provide food processing equipment and facilities. For Program Implementers: Secure funding for food costs Offer incentives to integrate culturally relevant, local foods. For local food leaders & program implementers: Provide food storage space Access trained personnel. All 3 groups: Transportation

Supports needed for tailoring PRx approaches for increased impact:

  • For Patients:
    • Provide cooking tools
    • Offer materials in different languages
  • For Local Food Leaders:
    • Offer collective funding opportunities
    • Provide food processing equipment and facilities
  • For Program Implementers:
    • Secure funding for food costs
    • Offer incentives to integrate culturally relevant, local foods
  • Each group mentioned needing transportation support and trusting relationships.
  • The local food leaders and program implementers expressed a need for food storage space and access to trained personnel.

Read the report for more insights and recommendations from the interviews.

Email us at reach@case.edu to learn more. 

The REACH project is funded by a grant (#6 NU58DP007747-01-01) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Our partners on the project are Better Health Partnership, Catalytic Change Link, Cleveland Fresh LLC, North American Food Systems Network, and Produce Perks Midwest. This project is funded from December 30, 2023 to September 29, 2028.

Contact us at reach@case.edu with any questions.