Food Insecurity

Food is Medicine: RWJBarnabas Health Addressed Food Insecurity at the Root Cause

Food and eating behavior are closely linked with health outcomes. As a health system committed to the health and wellness of all we serve, we must ensure that our communities have access to healthy, fresh food. To achieve this, we help to strengthen local and regional food systems through partnerships with the agriculture, education and government industries. We seek to improve food security and equitable access to food through improved policies and social services, and strive to work towards systems, environment and infrastructure changes in the food ecosystem. With this focus, we help to sustain impact and improve the economic and physical health of communities and individuals.

RWJBarnabas Health is working to change the food ecosystem by creating channels for food production and distribution with New Jersey urban and rural farmers. We are developing local food hubs that aggregate and distribute food from the New Jersey agriculture industry by giving farmers easy access to institutional buyers and local retail efforts. We are helping to increase points of distribution at the business and organizational level as well as at the individual level through our own “food farmacies” and community partner pantries, addressing this critical social determinant of health at its root cause.

Food Farmacies

Our Food Farmacies promote healthy, nutritious eating using a clinically based approach. Registered Dietitians meet with patients in a 1-1 counseling setting, and then provide recommendations for food choices that are available on-site based on their condition and cultural preferences. Patients have access to locally grown, sustainable foods and healthy shelf-stable foods. The food farmacies also provide diapers and period products for women, significantly alleviating financial strain and freeing up a portion of their monthly budget for other necessities.

A “food farmacy” differs from a food pantry in that the farmacy provides comprehensive, individualized care and nutrition education while a food pantry serves as an emergent feeding site helping to fight hunger in our communities.

The level of clinical care is tailored to the partnership co-design, location, needs and resources available. All are in partnerships with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and urban and rural farmers throughout the state. Four locations (Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Jersey City Medical Center and Saint James Health in Newark) are currently in operation. In 2024, RWJBarnabas Health’s collective food farmacy impact was as follows:

Other key locations for food access and education:

Monmouth Medical Center’s Green Market and Teaching Kitchen

Monmouth Medical Center’s Green Market and teaching kitchen at the Anne Vogel Family Care and Wellness Center in Eatontown provides patients and the community access to nutrition education, healthy cooking classes and healthy food through their market.

RWJUH Hamilton’s Farm to Family Program

RWJUH Hamilton’s Farm to Family program, in partnership with local farms and a local church, provide food and education to those in need.

The Common Market Connection

The Common Market Connection, a farming “broker” and distributor, connects farm food with community organizations in need.

The Sadie Vickers Community Garden

The Sadie Vickers Community Garden, created in partnership with The Sadie Vickers Resource Center, provides a 100 earth box garden. Each box provides ~30 pounds of fresh produce.

The Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

The Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is a 72’ X 26' hydroponic greenhouse producing as much food as a five-acre farm and donates to local soup kitchens, pantries and other community-based organizations. The Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market accepts SNAP, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits.

KidsFit: Nutrition Education and Health Literacy

KidsFit: Nutrition Education and Health Literacy – 104 total schools committed to date in Bayonne, Carteret, Chester, East Orange, Jersey City and Newark.