Statement From Derek Kilmer, Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs and Policy at The Rockefeller Foundation

Produce prescription programs have the power to transform Veterans’ health and save lives. At The Rockefeller Foundation, we’ve seen this firsthand through our partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the research we’ve supported.

Veterans experience chronic health conditions at disproportionately higher rates than the general population — including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. About 27% of Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are food insecure, more than double the rate of the general U.S. population. When we integrate nutrition into healthcare through produce prescriptions, we see real results: measurable improvements in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and weight management.

The impact goes beyond the clinical data. As one Veteran who participated in a Veterans Affairs FreshConnect ProduceRx study last year told researchers, “Instead of medicating us with drugs, medicate us with a produce prescription. That way, we take care of the underlying problem.” Since 2023, The Rockefeller Foundation has partnered with the VA to pilot produce prescription programs in Texas, Utah, Maryland, New York, and North Carolina, reaching more than 2,500 veterans with monthly vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables alongside nutrition counseling. Research shows these interventions don’t just improve health — they can reduce healthcare costs by decreasing emergency room visits and hospital stays.

Establishing permanent authority for produce prescriptions within the VA would be a meaningful step toward addressing both the nutrition and healthcare needs of America’s Veterans. The Foundation remains committed to advancing Food is Medicine interventions that save lives, save money, and support those who have fought for us.