Our Food is Medicine initiative
For years, Fairview has worked diligently to build a collaborative of providers, local producers, and community organizations to help ensure all patients experience food security. Now, we have a new name and look for our work. Introducing Fair Table, Fairview’s Food is Medicine program.
For years, Fairview has worked diligently to build a collaborative of providers, local producers, and community organizations to help ensure all patients experience food security. Now, we have a new name and look for our work. Introducing Fair Table, Fairview’s Food is Medicine program.
Fair Table programs provide nutritious options that are easy to access, locally sourced, and culturally connected. Our vision is to create a just and equitable food system that ensures all patients and community members are food secure and have access to food that reduces health disparities and diet-related health conditions.
Access to nutritious food is an important part of an individual’s health. Yet, many of our community members face barriers to accessing healthy food such as food costs, transportation, and a lack of cooking skills. In 2022, 1 in 11 Minnesotans (that’s 537,890 people) experienced food insecurity, according to Feeding America.
Food insecurity has a negative impact on an individual’s health and can lead to chronic health conditions, poor social skills, and more. This issue impacts our racially and culturally diverse communities at a higher rate. That’s why Fairview is working to advance food security in our community by using the healing power of food to nourish our patients, enrich our communities, and transform our systems.
Enrich our communities
Our organization is cultivating trusting and engaged partnerships to build and share resources, assets, and capacity.
Nourish our patients
Fairview is advancing food security to reduce health disparities and diet-related health conditions.
Transform our systems
Fairview is nurturing just and equitable food systems to ensure health equity.
Core programming
Fairview has four core programming options to support patients experiencing food insecurity.
Fresh food prescription program
Culturally relevant produce, proteins, and pantry staples with engagement and food skills materials.
Food voucher program
Monthly voucher to use at metro area food retail programs.
Shelf-stable food bags
Immediate need food bag containing staple items.
Food resource packets
Resources, grocery gift card, and recipes.
In addition to the core programming, Fairview partners with the community to enrich our community and transform our systems.
Community engagement: East Side Table, a collaborative between Fairview and community partners located on St. Paul’s East Side, offers programming focused on improving food skills and increasing the consumption of healthy foods. The team attends community events, offers nutrition information and cooking demonstrations, and hosts classes and community meals.
Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub: Together, Fairview and The Sanneh Foundation source food and organize volunteers who package food for distribution to community partners. Over 2.5 million pounds of food are packaged for families and seniors each year.
Youth workforce development: Local youth help package food at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub and participate in a paid workforce development program.
Food resource navigators: Employed by Fairview, our food resource navigators support patients’ enrollment in Food is Medicine programs, provide access to food resources, and stay updated on local food supports. This program is currently being piloted at select clinic sites.
Local food economy: In support of our local food economy, we've sourced from over 41 Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC)- and/or women owned farms to supply the produce for our programs.
Advocacy
The Center for Community Health Equity, in close partnership with Fairview’s Public Policy team and partners from across the organization, is advocating for our patients and community members at the Minnesota State Capitol. The goal is to advance policy efforts to address the social determinants of health, such as access to healthy food. Recent activities include:
- Fairview signed on again as part of the “Partners to End Hunger” coalition led by Hunger Solutions. On March 13, a team of Fairview employees participated in the 2024 Hunger Day on the Hill at the State Capitol to educate legislators about the importance of supporting hunger relief programs.
- Fairview joined a coalition of health systems and community partners urging the Minnesota Department of Human Services to seek a federal waiver for Minnesota’s Medicaid program. The 1115 Waiver for Health-Related Social Needs would help fund further investment in upstream supports, including providing short- and long-term solutions to hunger.
- Food Resource Navigators were recently hired to support Fairview’s Food is Medicine programs by assisting patients in accessing local food resources. The role is an extension of our social determinants of health screenings, giving clinicians a tool to support patients identified as food insecure. The East Metro navigator’s position is funded by United Healthcare. The West Metro navigator’s position is funded through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), and the City of Minneapolis Public Health REACH program.
Latest news
- Fairview Health Services launches Fair Table to advance health equity in Minnesota
- Patients experiencing food insecurity can get connected to food resources during their clinic appointment
- Newly expanded community garden at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center grows to meet our community's needs
- Farm to clinic: Expanded Veggie Rx program fights hunger, malnutrition with farm-fresh produce deliveries
- New partnership feeds families in St. Paul's East Side with traveling food shelf