Veggie Rx
EAT BETTER
This fruit & vegetable prescription program allows clinical staff to prescribe vouchers for fresh produce to patients with chronic, diet-related health concerns.
Results from recent Community Health Needs Assessments for Berks County prioritize obesity & chronic illness as areas of greatest concern. View the Community Health Assessment.
The Berks LaunchBox set out to address these concerns using social entrepreneurial concepts that improve local food access & education, while supporting the local economy. Enter Veggie Rx.
How it Works
An upstream approach to addressing chronic and diet-related illness, our pilot fruit and vegetable prescription program (Veggie Rx) allows physicians to prescribe vouchers for fruits and vegetables to patients struggling with diabetes and obesity. These patients redeem their vouchers at participating Farmer’s Markets while receiving nutrition education and clinical care. Based off Wholesome Wave’s national model, our pilot is launching at Penn State Health St. Joseph’s Downtown Campus.
Check out the results of our pilot program!
Vendors
Penn State Health St. Joseph Farm Stand
Tuesdays from 11am-2pm.
Spring/Summer/Fall: Located at the corner of Walnut & Reed Streets, Reading, PA
Winter: Located inside the main lobby of Penn State Health St. Joseph’s Downtown Campus off N. 6th St., Reading, PA
Penn Street Farmer’s Market
Thursdays from June 7-Sept. 27
10 AM – 2 PM
5th & Penn Street, Reading PA
Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market
Thursdays from 8 AM – 7 PM
Fridays from 8 AM – 8 PM
Saturdays from 8 AM – 4 PM
2934 N. 5th Street Highway, Reading PA