LOCAL
Meritus Food Farmacy reaches 1,000 referrals in region
Janis Reeser
The Herald-Mail
July 30, 2026, 5:07 a.m. ET
Meritus Health’s Food Farmacy program has reached its 1,000th referral, marking a milestone for an initiative that connects patients with healthy food, nutrition education and dietitian support
The program, launched in 2025, provides groceries tailored to specific health conditions and nutrition guidance, according to a community announcement. Participants receive food packages valued at about $50 per week for eight weeks or longer to help manage conditions including diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease
For Bobby and Audie Dowler, participation in the program has brought changes they say have improved their health and eating habits
“They’re very good programs. I love them,” Bobby Dowler said in the announcement. “The food demos are great, very delicious.”
Audie Dowler said in the announcement that the program has helped her make dietary changes
“My blood sugars were way, way up, and I’ve been able to eat this food that they provide for us. It’s been very helpful,” Audie said in the announcement
Addressing food insecurity and chronic disease
The Food Farmacy program is designed to address food insecurity and improve access to nutritious foods for patients facing barriers such as transportation challenges, financial limitations and limited access to fresh groceries
According to the announcement, those barriers can make it more difficult for people to maintain healthy diets and manage chronic health conditions
Enrollment continues to grow
The program has enrolled hundreds of patients and completed thousands of food pickups since launching. According to the announcement, nearly half of referrals are tied to diabetes, underscoring the program’s focus on diet-related health concerns
More information is available at meritushealth.com
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/
