A Minnesota Clinic Is Giving Patients Fresh Food Alongside Medical Care

At CARE Clinic in Red Wing, health care workers are helping some patients improve their diets by providing fresh fruits and vegetables at no charge. The clinic's Fresh Food Farmacy, also called VeggieRx, offers food to patients who may struggle to afford or find healthy groceries.

MPR News reported October 26 that clinic research involving participating patients with diabetes found meaningful improvement in blood sugar control among regular users of the program. The story also noted that rural food access can be difficult when grocery stores are far away or fresh items cost more.

Why it matters in our region: Food shelves, clinics, farms and local organizations already understand the challenges of getting affordable food to families. Red Wing's program is one practical model to learn from, though it has not been announced as a program here.

Source: MPR News, October 26, 2026.