Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program: Produce Prescription

• The primary goal and objective of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program: Produce Prescription (GusNIP-PPR) is to demonstrate and evaluate the impact of projects on
  • The improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
  • The reduction of individual and household food insecurity
  • The reduction in health care use and associated costs 

• Produce prescription programs (PPRs) are a second type of financial incentive that are available through GusNIP.  

• Nonprofit organizations and government agencies are eligible to apply. The population eligible to enroll in PPRs includes those who are experiencing low income and/or chronic disease(s), such as type 2 diabetes, and screen positive for food insecurity within a health care system.
• The GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center provides free one-on-one support, as well as templates, checklists, webinars, and other resources to all GusNIP grantees and applicants. 
• Applications are accepted annually for projects with a grant duration of up to 3 years.  

Applicants to GusNIP programs are encouraged to partner and collaborate broadly throughout the health care system and the food system.

The produce prescription grant applications must include documentation of a partnership agreement with a health care partner in one of the following four categories: hospital, federally-qualified health center, hospital, or clinic operated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or health care provider group. 

Health care providers “prescribe” fruits and vegetables to patients using vouchers (or a similar mechanism), which can be redeemed for fruits and vegetables at participating food retailers or clinic-based food “farmacies." 

Evaluations of projects funded through GusNIP-PPR can inform future Food Is Medicine programs.