Building local food networks for COVID-resilient rural communities
Residents in the Indiana Uplands region are taking steps to improve their health with a new food-as-medicine initiative that is providing local food, education, and resources as part of the statewide Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE) effort.
The Food as Medicine program provides cooking lessons, physical activity events, and meal kits, with many ingredients sourced directly from farmers in the communities, to residents who qualify through programs such as SNAP, WIC, and other local services. Participants also receive supplies that make it feasible for them to cook whole foods at home, such as oil, spices, knives, cutting boards, pots, and peelers.
Community partners in Daviess County ensured that the program was accessible to Spanish- and Haitian Creole-speaking residents by offering translated materials and resources.
This initiative harnesses a food-as-medicine approach to strengthen local food systems and address social determinants of health across the Indiana Uplands region. Food-as-medicine community partnerships aim to build the COVID resilience of the region. This project is led by Dr. Julia Valliant of Indiana University Sustainable Food Systems Science and The Ostrom Workshop in collaboration with the IU Center for Rural Engagement.
The Indiana University team
Julia Valliant, Assistant Research Scientist
A member of Indiana University Sustainable Food Systems Science and The Ostrom Workshop, Julia leads the food-as-medicine initiative in collaboration with the Center for Rural Engagement.
Kathleen Sobiech, Health Projects Liaison
Kathleen supports the implementation of projects to address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance health equity by expanding the resources and services offered in rural communities.
Jacob Simpson, Community Resilience Liaison
Jacob supports the Center for Rural Engagement's work by building collaborations between communities, IU faculty, students, and staff, to foster a more resilient Indiana.
Community partners
Local and regional partners spanning the food, health, and education sectors have collaborated to launch this program, including:
- Linton Farmers' Market
- Purdue Extension
- Greene County WIC
- Greene County General Hospital
- Greene County Health Clinic
- Pregnancy Choices
- RSVP Volunteer Center
- Produce Patch
- Indiana Rural Health Association Healthy Start Communities that C.A.R.E.
- Daviess Community Hospital
- Central Indiana Interpreting Service
- Schneck Medical Center
- Community Health Center of Jackson County
- New Hope Services Inc.
- Healthy Families Jackson County
- Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry
- VanAntwerp's Farm Market
- Plumer & Bowers Farmstead
- Gleaners Food Bank
- Lost River Market and Deli
- Lincoln Hills Development Corporation
- Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation
- Mitchell Schools
Partner spotlight
Wendy Bailey, Greene County Health
Wendy had an instrumental role in connecting Greene County residents to the food-as-medicine program and helping with weekly cooking demonstrations. In her role as a care coordinator at Greene County Community Health, Wendy helps residents access physical and mental healthcare services as well as food, clothing, shelter, nutrition resources, and wellness programs.
Findings and outcomes
By the numbers
- 60+ individuals collaborated from partner organizations in health, food, and education sectors
- 2,300+ meal kits created
- Greene County residents picked up 78% of the meal kits in their community's program
- Greene County participants said their experience with the program was a 10/10
Feedback from Greene County program participants
- More likely to participate in the program when recommended or promoted by health-related community organizations
- Likely to return to the farmers' market this year to buy food
- Very likely to recommend the program to a friend or colleague
- Enjoyed learning new uses for fresh vegetables and trying locally grown produce
- Enjoyed exchanging recipes and socializing with other participants
Recipe videos from Food as Medicine Daviess County
Previously published articles
- Lessons for healthy living
- Healing with Local Food
- New food-as-medicine programs increase access to nutritious, local food