Lawmakers Introduce Produce Prescription for Veterans Act

Bipartisan legislation aims to integrate fruits and vegetables into healthcare for veterans.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 12:47am

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The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Produce Prescription for Veterans Act by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. The legislation would incorporate produce prescription programs into the standards of clinical care for the Veterans Health Administration, building on successful pilots that have shown produce prescriptions can lower healthcare costs and improve health outcomes.

Why it matters

With eight out of 10 healthcare dollars in the U.S. spent on preventable chronic diseases, and the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasizing fruits and vegetables as a foundational part of a healthful diet, integrating produce prescriptions into veteran healthcare could have a transformational impact on the health of those who have served our nation.

The details

Produce prescriptions have been shown to lower HbA1c, BMI, and blood pressure, and research has found that these interventions in Medicaid have lowered hospitalization rates and reduced healthcare spending by an average of $1,700 per patient annually. IFPA has been advocating for produce prescriptions as a public policy priority for years, and the organization is mobilizing grassroots support to urge members of Congress to cosponsor the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act.

  • The Produce Prescription for Veterans Act was introduced in January 2026.
  • In 2023, the Rockefeller Foundation announced a partnership with the Veterans Health Administration to launch pilot projects for veterans in Texas and Utah, expanding the program last year due to its widespread popularity.

The players

International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)

A trade association representing the fresh produce industry, which has been advocating for produce prescription programs as a public policy priority.

Sen. Richard Durbin

A Democratic senator from Illinois who introduced the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act.

Rep. Vern Buchanan

A Republican representative from Florida who introduced the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act.

Rep. Chellie Pingree

A Democratic representative from Maine who introduced the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act.

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What they’re saying

“Today's legislation takes a pivotal step forward in integrating fruits and vegetables into healthcare at scale. After years of successful pilots, we know produce prescriptions work.”

— Cathy Burns, CEO, International Fresh Produce Association

“Produce prescriptions represent the most significant opportunity in decades to increase consumption. IFPA has long worked to advance produce prescriptions, and seeing this legislation bring them to the national stage is incredibly exciting.”

— Mollie Van Lieu, Vice President of Nutrition and Health, International Fresh Produce Association

What’s next

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The takeaway

By incorporating produce prescription programs into the standards of clinical care for the Veterans Health Administration, the Produce Prescription for Veterans Act could have a transformational impact on the health of those who have served our nation, addressing chronic disease and reducing healthcare costs.