The Wholesome Wave Blog
Wholesome Wave applauds the USDA on the expansion of produce prescriptions in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
Wholesome Wave applauds the USDA on the expansion of produce prescriptions in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
(Bridgeport, CT) June 1, 2021 Wholesome Wave, the national leading nonprofit working to eliminate disparities in diet-related disease across the United States today extended congratulations and support to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the entire team at USDA on their announcement of a robust framework for shoring up the food supply chain and and transforming the food system to be fairer, more competitive, and more resilient. Among the important policies announced today was a major expansion of produce prescriptions in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), a program enacted in the 2018 farm bill which honors our co-founder.
Wholesome Wave was founded on a simple principle: everyone, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, deserves access to healthy food. This fundamental belief has driven us to the forefront of the nutrition equity movement, striving to make fruits and vegetables both affordable and accessible to all. Our year-end report encapsulates our successful endeavors in 2023 and shines a light on our 2024 goals.
Wholesome Wave has been awarded a USDA grant to launch innovative, equity-centered fruit and vegetable prescription program for pregnant participants in Hartford. Leading Connecticut public health organizations have high aspirations for a new food-as-medicine model that centers on community fidelity, equity, and dignity.
As PRx programs have proliferated around the country in recent years and sought to sustain themselves and even scale, IT solutions have gained momentum.
Wholesome Wave joins more than 150 organizations united in sending a letter to President Biden, Sec. Vilsack calling for “transformative” Farm Bill
Today, more than 150 organizations representing a range of sectors and sharing an interest in a stronger, more equitable farm and food system joined together to enlist President Biden as an ally and call on him to demand that the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill reflects his strong values.
Today, Wholesome Wave, alongside state and national partners, sent a letter to the USDA encouraging imperative updates to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
Today, Wholesome Wave, alongside their partners at the National Produce Prescription Collaborative (NPPC), sent a letter to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health outlining a policy pathway for embedding fruit and vegetable prescription programs into healthcare.
Wholesome Wave applauds the USDA on the expansion of produce prescriptions in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
(Bridgeport, CT) June 1, 2021 Wholesome Wave, the national leading nonprofit working to eliminate disparities in diet-related disease across the United States today extended congratulations and support to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the entire team at USDA on their announcement of a robust framework for shoring up the food supply chain and and transforming the food system to be fairer, more competitive, and more resilient. Among the important policies announced today was a major expansion of produce prescriptions in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), a program enacted in the 2018 farm bill which honors our co-founder.
Wholesome Wave to Use Donations from John Hancock to Fund Produce Prescription Programs and Drive Policy Change
John Hancock, the US division of Toronto-based Manulife (NYSE: MFC) announced a commitment to empower sustained health and wellbeing for its customers and community partners by matching the HealthyFood™ savings of John Hancock Vitality life insurance customers with donations to Wholesome Wave, a national nonprofit organization that provides affordable access to nutritious food. John Hancock Vitality customers participating in the HealthyFood benefit can earn Vitality Points and enjoy discounts on purchases of fresh produce at participating grocers, and beginning today, John Hancock will match each dollar saved by customers through the HealthyFood program for the remainder of 2022 with a donation to Wholesome Wave.*
WHOLESOME WAVE RECEIVES GRANT FROM WALMART TO DEVELOP AND APPLY FED PRINCIPLE TO PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM
Hartford, Connecticut to Serve as Test Community for Innovative Model
Bridgeport, Connecticut - Wholesome Wave, a renowned national 501(c)3 non-profit that addresses nutrition insecurity by making healthy produce available and affordable for people who need it most, today announced its receipt of a grant from Walmart to support the development and implementation of its new, transformational “FED” Principle to its Produce Prescription Programs. Hartford, Connecticut has been selected as the inaugural community for this ground-breaking model with key implementation partners including Hartford Health System, Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and Hispanic Health Council, and key redemption partners including US Hunger, C-Town, KeyFood Markets, and Hartford Food System.
Join Michel, the members of the committee, and co-panelists from Root Cause Coalition, ALL In Alameda County, Socially Determined, Gods Love We Deliver, and UC Davis Health on Livestream at 2 pm tomorrow, September 1st!!
Wholesome Wave, the national leading nonprofit working to increase access to fruits and vegetables for underserved people is proud to support the recent announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) about an important update to the SNAP program, resulting in a substantial increase in the average SNAP benefit.
Produce Prescription Programs Then & Now: Implications for Health & Systems Improvement, to learn first-ever findings and recommendations on research of U.S. produce prescription programs from 2010 - 2020!
This new report and interactive maps were commissioned by Wholesome Wave and prepared by DAISA Enterprises to further the evidence-base and policy-change potential for investment in food & health systems through the produce prescription model. In addition to research highlights, invited speakers will share context, field evolution, and opportunities to advance equity, program, and policy aims.
Download the report to read more!
The year 2020 was defined by devastating loss and political and social unrest. It gave us the opportunity to evaluate our practices and shift how we approach our work. With the guidance of new leadership, we paused to look deeper at the structures that drive the racial inequities that became more apparent. We began to talk about what was missing from the larger conversation around Nutrition Insecurity and our role as an innovator of solutions that promise long-term sustainable system change, maintaining our vision of a world where everyone can afford to eat healthily.
Wholesome Wave is proud to share our 2020 impact report with all of you. Please click the download button to download the full report!
Wholesome Wave’s new CEO Benjamin Perkins sat down with Nina Livingstone from Edible Boston to discuss his new role and the organization.
Wholesome Wave congratulates Secretary Thomas Vilsack on his successful appointment as Secretary of Agriculture of the United Sates, and we thank the US Senate for their swift, bi-partisan approval of his candidacy!
The op-ed written by Wholesome Wave Co-Founder, Michel Nischan and his friend Akash Goel, with endorsements by Senator Bill Frist and Tom Colicchio, shows us just how much nutrition and diet impact our lives, as well as the public health of our country in a pandemic environment. Head to CNN to read the full story to learn about the real issue of Nutrition Insecurity, and how impactful our food choices are on public health.
Big thanks to Ted Koppy and the NBC CT team for helping us tell our story and share our mission to end Nutrition Insecurity! Head to this link to watch the full story to learn more about what Wholesome Wave is up to with our partners at Hartford Healthcare and our partnership with Tangelo!
Read this Fast Company article to learn more about how we are combating nutrition insecurity in the state of California with the help of our partners, Tangelo and Naked Juice!

