Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
FoodShare SC briefs council on VeggieRx produce‑prescription program in York County
Summary
FoodShare South Carolina presented VeggieRx, a produce-prescription partnership with clinics and local hub Hope, and reported short-term improvements in A1c, blood pressure and nutrition-security measures for participants; councilors asked about local farm participation and procurement.
Omay Salma Rahemtula, executive director of FoodShare South Carolina, briefed York County Council on the VeggieRx produce‑prescription program during the Dec. 1 meeting. VeggieRx partners with clinics (including Affinity Health) and local hubs (Hope) to provide free boxes of fresh produce to patients with diet-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
Rahemtula said FoodShare’s statewide results show clinically meaningful reductions in A1c (from an example average of 8.3 to 7.6 in six months), measurable declines in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improved nutrition-security scores. The York County hub sources produce from regional growers when possible; the presenter named local suppliers including Bush & Vine and Cotton Farms and said the program is pursuing grants for a local procurement coordinator.
Council members thanked the presenters, asked staff to coordinate with the county’s economic development director on local procurement opportunities and acknowledged existing county support and private philanthropic contributions to the local hub.
