Food Bank of Alaska is proud to announce the launch of a statewide initiative to strengthen nutrition security and public health outcomes. This initiative catalyzes a decade-long effort to bring more produce and medically tailored nutrition interventions to Alaskans across the state.
Food Bank of Alaska will coordinate a diverse coalition of healthcare providers, Tribal health organizations, public agencies, farmers, food access groups, and those with lived experiences to expand the understanding, reach, impact of produce incentive and Food is Medicine (FIM) programs. These programs are designed to support individuals at risk of or living with chronic health conditions by providing fruits and vegetable access through vouchers and produce prescriptions.
“This is a transformational opportunity to better understand and offer access to nutritious foods across the state,” said Rachael Miller, Chief Advocacy Officer at Food Bank of Alaska and project lead. “We are especially committed to ensuring that this work reflects the needs, traditions, and voices of rural and medically underserved communities.”
Key activities to improve access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods include a comprehensive statewide landscape assessment of existing produce and Food is Medicine programs, the formation of a statewide coalition, and the development of Alaska-specific training materials and technical support resources.
This initiative is in partnership with the Alaska Department of Health and builds on Food Bank of Alaska’s decades of experience managing statewide food access programs. In partnership with 150 agencies, Food Bank of Alaska has worked to end hunger in Alaska since 1979 and is a member of the Feeding America network.
