VeggieRx: Utilization and Outcomes of Promise Clinic’s Produce Prescription Program Addressing Food Insecurity in Uninsured Communities

  • Srivarsha Kaloth, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Labeeqa Khizir, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Radha Patel Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Ava-Dawn Anigbogu Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Amy Caffrey Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Radhika-Alicia Patel, MPH Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Brittany Hofferber Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Jonathan Brisbon, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Aleksandra Hussain, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Mohana Biswas, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Jacob Jaslove, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Keshav Patel, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Jack Hayes, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Meredith Taylor, MA, MPH New Brunswick Community Farmers Market
  • Lauren B Errickson, PhD Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Karen W Lin, MD Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Cara Cuite, PhD Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59586/jsrc.v11i1.507
Keywords: food insecurity, fruits and vegetables, program evaluation, prescriptions

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity has profound implications for health outcomes and can exacerbate health disparities in vulnerable communities. VeggieRx is a fruit and vegetable produce prescription program implemented by the Homeless and Indigent Population Health Outreach Project’s Promise Clinic (PC), a student-run free clinic for the uninsured, with the goal of increasing access to fresh produce in this population.

Methods: PC patients were enrolled in VeggieRx by volunteer Student Doctor teams and completed an intake survey. During the VeggieRx season, participants received up to four $30 to $60 prescription vouchers redeemable for fresh produce at the local farmer’s market. Post-surveys administered at the conclusion of the season assessed preliminary outcomes and areas for program improvement. We use descriptive statistics to describe survey responses of VeggieRx participants enrolled over three recent seasons (2021-2023), assessing baseline diet perceptions, program utilization, and self-reported diet outcomes.

Results: Of all established PC patients, Student Doctor teams enrolled a total of 50 participants in the 2021-2023 VeggieRx seasons. Nearly half of patients reported not eating enough fruits and vegetables at 42%, with 58% of participants reporting affordability as a barrier to access and 22% reporting limited availability nearby. After VeggieRx, 61.9% of participants reported improvement in their fresh produce consumption, with 19.0% eating "a lot more" and 42.9% eating "somewhat more." Consecutive seasons had an increase in returning users, where nearly 41% of VeggieRx 2023 users had been enrolled in a previous season.

Conclusion: Veggie Rx provided PC patients with increased access and affordability to fresh produce, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing produce prescription programs in student-run free clinics. This innovative care model integrates medical education with the ability to address food insecurity in diverse populations and form long-lasting relationships with community health partners. Future efforts will be aimed at increasing program accessibility and expanding its reach.

Published
2025-09-26
How to Cite
Kaloth, S., Khizir, L., Patel, R., Anigbogu, A.-D., Caffrey, A., Patel, R.-A., Hofferber, B., Brisbon, J., Hussain, A., Biswas, M., Jaslove, J., Patel, K., Hayes, J., Taylor, M., Errickson, L., Lin, K., & Cuite, C. (2025). VeggieRx: Utilization and Outcomes of Promise Clinic’s Produce Prescription Program Addressing Food Insecurity in Uninsured Communities. Journal of Student-Run Clinics, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.59586/jsrc.v11i1.507
Issue
Vol 11 No 1 (2025)
Section
Original Study

Copyright (c) 2025 Srivarsha Kaloth, Labeeqa Khizir, Radha Patel, Ava-Dawn Anigbogu, Amy Caffrey, Radhika-Alicia Patel, Brittany Hofferber, Jonathan Brisbon, Aleksandra Hussain, Mohana Biswas, Jacob Jaslove, Keshav Patel, Jack Hayes, Meredith Taylor, Lauren Errickson, Karen Lin, Cara Cuite

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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