Why Alameda County is betting on food pharmacies for low-income patients

When she went to La Clinica de la Raza health center in Oakland for a routine checkup, the 54-year-old immigrant told her doctor she was under a lot of stress. Work had begun to dry up for her husband, a day laborer, and money was tight. Marta, who asked to be identified by a first name only, has chronic diabetes, and the doctor noted her high blood pressure. So the physician gave her an unexpected prescription: a $10 voucher for locally sourced produce, which Marta could redeem at La Clinica’s monthly food distribution.

The prescription was her gateway to what organizers call a food pharmacy — a new program aimed at improving the health of low-income patients in Alameda County by connecting them with fresh produce.