The Rockefeller Foundation has announced a $3.5 million investment in Food is Medicine (FIM) programs across the United States.

Part of the foundation’s $100 million commitment to FIM programs, the grants will advance research while supporting small and midsize U.S. farmers, improving health outcomes for people with chronic disease, and mitigating rising healthcare costs. The funding also will support state-based efforts nationwide to include FIM interventions as a medically covered benefit under Medicaid programs. Grant recipients include 4P Foods, Adelante Mujeres, Alameda County Recipe4Health, Community Servings, Harvard University’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Hawaii Good Food Alliance, and Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

“I have seen firsthand how some of the Rockefeller Foundation’s partners are growing and distributing nutritious food for produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals to support health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases,” said Rockefeller Foundation executive vice president of programs Elizabeth Yee. “By sourcing food locally, these Food is Medicine programs are improving health outcomes, while also improving livelihoods for farmers and supporting economic development in their communities.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/valentinrussanov)