Produce for Health in Hampshire County's Food Desert Communities
PI: Memnun Seven, Co-I: Raeann Leblanc
About
Produce for Health unites healthcare and local food systems to boost healthy eating, reduce food insecurity, and improve outcomes for rural residents with or at risk for chronic illness.
Produce for Health is an innovative collaboration between Healthy Hampshire – Collaborative for Educational Services, Hilltown Community Health Centers, and the UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing.
Our project explores the impact of a produce prescription program on improving healthy eating, reducing food insecurity, and supporting healthcare use among low-income populations living with—or at risk for—chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
By focusing on residents with or at risk for chronic health condition of Hampshire County, Western Massachusetts, we aim to address health inequities in rural communities while strengthening the local food system. Program participants are recruited through Hilltown Community Health Centers, ensuring direct connection to the populations most in need.
Together, we are working toward a future where access to fresh, healthy food is part of sustainable healthcare solutions.
Faculty
Memnun Seven
Associate Professor
Raeann G. LeBlanc
Clinical Professor
