Franciscan Health Launches Produce Prescription Program

Six-week program offers nutrition education, healthy eating support, and fresh produce deliveries.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:03am

Franciscan Health and Indy Hunger Network have partnered to offer the Produce Prescription Program, a six-week initiative that provides participants with monthly servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, hands-on training to prepare healthy meals and snacks, and education on gardening and food preservation.

Why it matters

The program aims to make it easier for people to incorporate more fresh produce into their diets by addressing common barriers like lack of familiarity with certain fruits and vegetables and not knowing how to prepare them. By offering this comprehensive support, the program hopes to improve nutrition and overall health outcomes for participants.

The details

Over the six-week program, participants will receive monthly deliveries of fresh produce, as well as hands-on training from experts on how to prepare the items. Sessions will also cover easy gardening techniques that can be done at home, as well as food preservation methods like canning. The program is designed to build comfort and familiarity with healthy ingredients.

  • The Produce Prescription Program will begin on April 6, 2026.
  • Sessions will run for six consecutive weeks.

The players

Franciscan Health

A healthcare system that is hosting the Produce Prescription Program in partnership with Indy Hunger Network.

Indy Hunger Network

A non-profit organization that is collaborating with Franciscan Health to offer the Produce Prescription Program and also runs the year-round Cooking Matters program.

Kate Howe

The Executive Director of the Indy Hunger Network, who discusses the importance of hands-on training to build comfort and familiarity with healthy foods.

Stacy Fink

A Community Health Specialist at Franciscan Health who oversees the Produce Prescription Program.

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What they’re saying

“It's the learning, the familiarity with the foods. It's learning the skills of how do you cut up a pineapple. I know I've eaten pineapple before, and it tasted good, but what is this prickly thing, and how do I manage that?”

— Kate Howe, Executive Director, Indy Hunger Network

“We have a master gardener come in, so we have pots and soil, and she brings in seeds and talks about easy ways of gardening there at your home, whether with five-gallon buckets or if you have a little plot. Easy things that you can do, you know, tomatoes.”

— Stacy Fink, Community Health Specialist, Franciscan Health

What’s next

To register for the Produce Prescription Program, participants can contact Stacey Fink at Franciscan Health or sign up through the Indy Hunger Network's Cooking Matters program.

The takeaway

The Produce Prescription Program provides a comprehensive approach to improving nutrition and food security by addressing common barriers to healthy eating, such as lack of familiarity and cooking skills. By offering hands-on training and fresh produce deliveries, the program aims to empower participants to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets.