A Win-Win-Win Solution for Food Equity in Ohio: Produce Perks Midwest
Produce Perks Midwest is an Ohio nonprofit that pioneers solutions to address inequities within our food system. Serving as the network hub for the Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network, Produce Perks Midwest works to increases affordable access to healthy food, supports local farmers and strengthens local economies, creating a win-win-win solution for food equity.
Produce Perks Midwest to create this win-win-win solution for addressing food access in Ohio, the Produce Perks program provides a $25.00 match on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) purchases. This means that any amount spent with SNAP/EBT, up to $25.00, will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling a household’s purchasing power. In addition, The Produce Perks program also partners with 100 farmers markets and farm stands, retail grocery stores, and Community Supported Agriculture programs, allowing SNAP/EBT payments to go back into the local economy and support local businesses.
The program has been successful. In 2023, Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network’s Produce Perks, Produce Prescriptions, and The Fruits and Vegetable programs generated $3,093,343 in healthy food purchases for 27,364 low-income households, empowering families to choose more than 1 million servings of fruits and vegetables.
Prescribed and Delivered!
Produce Prescriptions (PRx) and Food Deliveries
Initially launched in Cuyahoga County, Ohio in 2013, Produce Perks Midwest’s Produce Prescription (PRx) programming for infant vitality helps healthcare providers provide nutrition insecure people with monthly fruit and vegetable prescription in the form of vouchers to spend at participating retailers or on a box filled with produce from local farmers delivered to their home. In 2023, thanks to partnership with the Ohio Department of Health, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, the program supported pregnant women and their newborns living in Ohio counties with the highest black infant mortality rates: Montgomery, Lorain, Lucas, Franklin, and Hamilton. PRx provides nutrition security to patients, deepening people’s trust with the healthcare and social service providers and leading to improved maternal and infant health outcomes.
Families enrolled in the PRx program receive booklets containing vouchers they can spend on fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores. The voucher amount is based on household size, from $60 to $150 per month.
In 2023, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Produce Perks Midwest launched PRx programing for adults with chronic diseases that can be improved with healthy diets (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, etc.); expanding access to this vital program. That same year, more than $34,000 in fruit and vegetable prescriptions were distributed. In 2024, Produce Perks Midwest has sent over 1,200 deliveries of fresh produce out to families. This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and collaboration of partners at farmers markets, public markets, and farmers who sell direct-to-consumer.
The Fruit and Vegetable Program
The Fruit and Vegetable Program is funded through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and helps make produce more affordable for families with children. Families enrolled in the Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program are eligible to receive 1 booklet worth $140 every six months. Booklets are distributed at coupon sign up events throughout communities and markets in Ohio. The booklets contain $5 coupons which can be spent on fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores.