Merry Hutton News Today

A growing number of health providers across Montana now have the option to write a different kind of prescription — not for pills, but for produce.

When Mackenzie Sachs, a registered dietitian on the Blackfeet Reservation, in northwestern Montana, sees a patient experiencing high blood pressure, diabetes, or another chronic illness, her first thought isn’t necessarily to recommend medication.

But do these initiatives work?

When Mackenzie Sachs, a registered dietitian on the Blackfeet Reservation, in northwestern Montana, sees a patient experiencing high blood pressure, diabetes, or another chronic illness, her first thought isn’t necessarily

“Diet-related chronic illness is really an epidemic in the United States,” researcher Katie Garfield said.

MTPRx was recently awarded a federal grant of $500,000 to support Montana produce prescription programs throughout the state.

The Montana Produce Prescription Collaborative, or MTPRx, brings together several nonprofits and health care providers across Montana. Led by the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition, the initiative was recently awarded a federal grant.