Westport News | CT Organization Treats Co-Morbidities with Fruits & Vegetables

Article by Katrina Koerting

Someone who has diabetes or heart disease might get a prescription for certain medications or physical therapy to help their ailments.

Under a growing produce prescription program, they might now get a prescription for a daily serving of fresh fruits and vegetables as medical providers look to address these comorbidities from a dietary and proactive approach.

And like those other treatments, a nonprofit in Bridgeport is trying to have Medicaid, Medicare or insurance companies cover part of these produce costs. Wholesome Wave officials say having these expenses covered will help more people since the program won’t have to largely rely on private donors and it will reduce medical expenses in the long run.

“The only thing the pandemic has changed is the intensity over the belief that these programs belong in the inventory of our public policy toolkit,” said Michel Nischan, a Fairfield resident who founded Wholesome Wave.

Wholesome Wave launched its produce prescription program in 2010, just a few years after the organization started.

Produce for sale at the First Congregational Church Farmer's Market Saturday, August, 11, 2018, at the church in Norwalk, Conn the First Congregational Church Farmer's Market is hosted by Norwalk Green Association and offers discounts for EBT recipients and runs through October.

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