Produce to the People: Good Food, Good Medicine

This presentation will give an overview of Kaiser Permanente's (KP) work to increase access to fresh, healthy food in and around KP facilities. KP's vision for this work is to improve the health of their members, employees, communities and the environment by adopting an organizational approach that promotes agricultural practices that are ecologically sound, economically viable, culturally appropriate and socially responsible. In May 2003, KP's first farmers' market was started at the health care organization's Oakland Medical Center for the benefit of staff, members, visitors, local farmers and the local community. Since then, over 30 other markets have started in KP locations in five states and D.C. This work has also inspired the development of farmers' markets on the campuses of major employers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Inside KP's hospitals and medical office buildings, efforts are focused on increasing access to low-calorie, high nutrient foods and beverages by significantly changing the contents of the vending machines and ensuring healthy choices in the cafeterias. Additionally, another significant project launched in August 2006 is the sourcing of produce from local, pesticide free farms for inpatient meal trays. Implemented with help from community-based organizations, this work not only improves the quality of food for patients, but also supports local family farms and a sustainable regional food system, and benefits the environment by reducing the distance food travels from farm to plate.