Fort Wayne Program Offers Produce Prescriptions to Address Chronic Disease

VeggieRx provides debit cards for fruits and vegetables and nutrition education to Medicaid patients and the uninsured.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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In Fort Wayne, Indiana, Parkview Health has launched a program called VeggieRx that offers produce prescriptions and nutrition education to patients on Medicaid, the uninsured, and those identified as food insecure with diet-related chronic conditions. Since 2022, over 832 participants have enrolled, with 70% actively participating in the educational component. The program has returned $220,000 to the local economy and has led to improved health outcomes like better blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, more wellness visits, fewer ER trips, and documented weight loss.

Why it matters

Chronic disease is a major public health crisis in the U.S., and addressing the root causes through improved nutrition is a rare area of bipartisan agreement. Programs like VeggieRx demonstrate how communities can take action to address chronic disease, support local economies, and provide a model that can be replicated across the country, especially in rural areas that often have the fewest resources to tackle these issues.

The details

VeggieRx is a produce prescription program where physicians refer eligible patients to receive a loaded debit card for fresh fruits and vegetables, along with dietitian-led nutrition classes. The program has grown from three farm stand redemption locations to more than 70 sites across Fort Wayne.

  • VeggieRx launched in 2022.
  • As of 2026, over 832 participants have enrolled in the program.

The players

Parkview Health

A healthcare system in Fort Wayne, Indiana that runs the VeggieRx program.

Dr. Sarah Giaquinta

The Senior Vice President of Parkview Health and the author of the article.

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What they’re saying

“Healthcare is more than a prescription pad.”

— Family medicine physician

What’s next

The recently enacted $50 billion Rural Health Fund represents an opportunity to expand produce prescription programs like VeggieRx to more rural communities that are disproportionately impacted by diet-related chronic diseases.

The takeaway

Programs like VeggieRx demonstrate that communities can take action to address chronic disease through improved nutrition, support local economies, and provide a replicable model that can be scaled across the country, especially in underserved rural areas.