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September 30, 2026

Media Contact:
Amanda Hils, Assistant Director of Media Relations, [email protected] 

Maryland Department of Health awards $10 million to increase access to fresh produce in high-poverty communities 
Produce Rx Initiative will deliver healthy food access and nutritional support to ENOUGH communities

Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Health today announced the recipients of Maryland’s $10 million in Produce Rx grants to improve health outcomes for Marylanders by expanding access to fresh, nutritious food. In addition to improving health outcomes and addressing food insecurity, the program supports the Moore-Miller administration’s efforts to reduce childhood poverty by awarding grants in ENOUGH communities—communities where childhood poverty is highly concentrated. 

The funding will support innovative collaborations among healthcare providers, local organizations, and community partners to provide produce prescriptions and wraparound services to individuals and families in communities. 

“Produce Rx demonstrates Maryland’s leadership in leveraging food as medicine and in investing in evidence-based strategies to address health disparities,” said Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “With these grants, we are removing barriers to healthy food access, improving health, and building stronger, more resilient communities.”

A produce prescription is a prescription from a health care provider for no-cost healthy produce to add to a patient’s daily meals to help address diet-related chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, a high-risk pregnancy, or high cholesterol. Patients receive this assistance through direct delivery services. 

Following an application process announced in June, 14 coalitions were selected for funding. These multi-sector partnerships bring together healthcare institutions, local schools, agricultural partners, and community and faith-based organizations to provide fresh produce, nutrition education, and comprehensive wraparound services tailored to community needs. The selected coalitions represent a diverse cross-section of Maryland, spanning both urban centers and rural areas in Maryland’s ENOUGH Initiative, where the State partners with local organizations to address high concentrations of poverty. All selected grantees share a commitment to cultural competency, participant choice and prioritizing targeted and equitable care. Recipients were also selected based on their commitment to sourcing fresh produce directly from Maryland-based agricultural producers to further bolster the state's agricultural economy.

• The City of Frederick and its twelve partners will integrate their Community Health and School-Based Health clinics with Farm to School produce markets to create trusted, barrier-free hubs where families can redeem produce prescriptions, receive bilingual nutrition education, and access vital health resources along Frederick’s Golden Mile. 
• Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), in partnership with Adventist HealthCare, Holy Cross Health, Luminis Health, The Upcounty Hub, the Institute for Public Health Innovation, and five ENOUGH Community Quarterbacks, will implement ProduceRx across ENOUGH communities in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Community health workers embedded with CAFB will support enrollment, engagement, and connections to fresh produce, clinical care, and wraparound services through health care and community partnerships.
• The Baltimore City Health Department is partnering with MedStar Health, Total Healthcare, and Healthcare Access Maryland and other partners to integrate a proven, data-driven produce prescription model that pairs fresh produce deliveries with expert care and support to achieve measurable health improvements across underserved Baltimore City communities.  
• In Caroline and Dorchester County, the Center for a HealthyMaryland’s coalition will unite MedChi physicians, NourishedRx, and ENOUGH Community Quarterbacks to deliver fresh, culturally tailored Maryland-grown produce and expert nutrition counseling to adults with hypertension.
• AfriThrive’s coalition, which includes Asawana Farms, will advance a culturally responsive Food as Medicine approach that connects families in Essex with fresh, locally grown produce, nutrition education, and opportunities to grow culturally significant foods, supporting healthier families while strengthening connections to Maryland farmers. 

A complete list of all 14 awarded coalitions is available at health.maryland.gov/AHEAD/Pages/Produceprescription.aspx. 

Produce Rx is central to the Department’s Food is Medicine initiative, promoting evidence-based strategies to improve community health through clinician-prescribed nutritional interventions, improved access to healthy foods, and targeted nutritional assistance. As the second major project funded by the Population Health Improvement Fund, it builds on the Medically Tailored Meals grant launched earlier this year. As a pilot to reduce health disparities, demonstrate effectiveness, and lower overall healthcare costs, Produce Rx will help shape the recent Request for Information to integrate food and nutrition services into Maryland’s Medicaid program through In Lieu of Services (ILOS). This will allow the state to extend these crucial nutrition services to a larger population.

“Poverty limits access to nutritious food—but increasing access to nutritious food and improving health outcomes supports economic mobility and helps build pathways out of poverty,” said Governor’s Office for Children Special Secretary Carmel Martin. “Produce Rx is a significant step forward in Maryland's all-of-government approach to supporting our ENOUGH communities, channeling resources that help ensure these communities are healthy and thriving.” 

The grant-funded initiatives will run for two years, prioritizing food-insecure individuals managing chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, or high-risk pregnancies. In addition to providing fresh produce vouchers, several programs will offer hands-on culinary workshops, comprehensive nutritional guidance, and direct support for accessing public assistance programs.

"By connecting farmers directly with health care providers and community organizations, Produce Rx helps get more locally-grown food onto the tables of families who need it most, while at the same time creating new and reliable markets for our producers," said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. "Every dollar spent on Maryland-grown produce supports our local economy, strengthens our food system and helps ensure more families have healthy, delicious food on their plates.” 


The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.