FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2022
The City of Richmond Parks & Recreation Department and the Richmond Farmers Market, in collaboration with Reid Health, Announces the Launch of the Harvest Your Health program.
RICHMOND, IN. - HARVEST YOUR HEALTH PROGRAM
The City of Richmond Parks & Recreation Department and the Richmond Farmers Market, in collaboration with Reid Health, is excited to announce the launch of Harvest Your Health, a program in which healthcare providers identify diabetic patients who could benefit from additional produce in their diet and prescribe vouchers for fresh, local produce redeemable at the Richmond, Connersville, or Fayette County Farmers Markets. Patients will be placed on one of three tracks and receive vouchers for 80-120 servings of produce per month based on their access to transportation, physical ability to walk around the market, and agreeability to having their produce selected on their behalf in accordance with their dietary restrictions, if need be.
In alignment with the statewide Produce Rx Pilot Program, the Harvest Your Health program will make nutritious food more accessible, and help to reduce COVID-19 risk factors and diet-related diseases.
The Richmond Farmers Market is committed to partnering with Reid Health to “Improve the health of the community by encouraging healthy choices and reducing the disparities related to activity and nutrition.” We look forward to working with Reid Health to support healthy lifestyles and ongoing efforts to enhance access to local, nutritious food for Wayne and Fayette County residents.
Farmers Markets will begin accepting Harvest Your Health vouchers this month.
To determine if you are eligible for participation in the Harvest Your Health program,
please have your healthcare provider contact Katrina Davis with Reid Health at (765) 935-8588.
Billie Kester, Vice President at Continuum of Care, noted that “we are very excited to partner with the markets for one of the tracks offered to diabetic patients to increase their intake of fresh produce. Similar prescriptive programs have been shown to reduce diabetic complications and lower average blood glucose levels. We feel very fortunate to have received this state-funded grant to allow us to bring this to our communities and the patients we serve.”
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The mission of the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is to provide for the positive development and well-being of the Richmond community through the provision of parks, greenways, trails and recreational programming and facilities while working in cooperation with other service providers and partners in the community to maximize all available resources.
For questions, imagery, or for media requests, please reach out via the contact details below:
Denise Retz, CPRP
Richmond Parks and Recreation
Superintendent
50 North 5th Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374
deniseretz@richmondindiana.gov
765-983-7276