How can you treat — or even prevent — chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or obesity through diet to improve health outcomes in those who screen positive for food insecurity? By going to a Food Farmacy.
In the latest example of how RWJBarnabas Health is working to address food insecurity and improve community health outcomes across the state, the health system on Thursday celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of a new Food Farmacy at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.
To be clear: This is no ordinary pharmacy – or grocery store. For starters, access requires a referral from a health care provider or doctor.
More to come
RWJBH has plans to open more locations that will address food insecurity and the social determinants of health.
RWJBH plans to open Harvest, an RWJBarnabas Health Farm to Community Center in Newark, this March and is preparing to launch an additional Food Farmacy in partnership with The Salvation Army in Newark later this year, further strengthening its commitment to addressing food insecurity through sustainable infrastructure and community-based solutions.
But inside, RWJBH’s Food Farmacy programs focus on healthy, nutritious eating using a clinically based approach.
Registered dietitians meet with patients one-on-one and provide recommendations for food choices based on their condition and cultural preferences.
The Food Farmacy offers fresh produce, refrigerated items and shelf-stable foods as well as culturally relevant foods, recipes and education focused on prevention and chronic disease management, including diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
RWJBH CEO Mark Manigan said the Food Farmacy at RWJUH Hamilton is part of the system’s broader strategy to address social determinants of health, recognizing that access to nutritious food is essential to improving health outcomes.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, our mission is to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey, and that means addressing the factors that shape health long before a patient ever enters a hospital room,” he said.
“The opening of this Food Farmacy is another important step in our efforts to combat food insecurity through strategic infrastructure investments and community-based programming. With support of state appropriation funding and trusted partners, we are expanding access to nutritious food and nutrition education so individuals and families can live healthier lives.”
RWJBH currently operates multiple Food Farmacies across the state, including the Green Apple Rx Food Farmacy at Jersey City Medical Center, the Women’s Wellness Food Farmacy at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, the Retail Pharmacy and Food Farmacy at Saint James Health in Newark and the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center in New Brunswick.
These Food Farmacies are operated in partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and a network of urban and rural farmers throughout New Jersey.
The Food Farmacy at RWJUH Hamilton was launched in partnership with Mercer Street Friends, a leading community organization addressing hunger and poverty in Mercer County, and Fairgrown Farm, a local farmer and distributor supplying fresh, locally sourced produce.
The investment in the Food Farmacy is supported in part by state funding, reflecting New Jersey’s continued commitment to advancing food security and innovative “food as medicine” initiatives. Together, the partners aim to ensure consistent access to high-quality, culturally relevant food for patients managing chronic conditions.
Bernie Flynn, CEO of Mercer Street Friends, obviously was thrilled.
“As the Food Bank of Mercer County, our commitment to healthy communities is at the heart of Mercer Street Friends’ work,” he said. “We recognize access to nutritious food is critical for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
“We’re proud to partner with RWJBH, Fairgrown Farms and the State of New Jersey in establishing the Food Farmacy. This effort is one more example of how strong collaboration with community partners leads to thoughtful solutions for our neighbors.”
Lisa Breza, chief administrative officer at RWJUH Hamilton, said the impact of the Food Farmacy will be huge in the greater Mercer County region.
“This Food Farmacy will have a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of our local community and the greater Trenton area,” she said. “By combining access to fresh, culturally relevant food with personalized nutrition counseling and education, we are meeting people where they are and providing practical tools that support long-term health, dignity and whole-person care.”
