ISU awarded federal grant to improve access to produce for pregnant and postpartum women

POCATELLO (Idaho Capital Sun) — Idaho State University will receive nearly $500,000 in federal funds to improve access to fruits and vegetables for pregnant and postpartum Idahoans. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday a $499,465 award to ISU for a new federal program, the Maternal Produce Prescription Program. The federal funding is meant to serve pregnant and postpartum women and their families in low-income and medically underserved communities and increase access to healthy foods, according to a press release. 

ISU Institute of Rural Health Grant Project Coordinator Kailey Blood said the program will serve eligible women and families in Idaho Public Health District 6, which encompasses the southeastern portion of the state. 

“It aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among enrolled women and their families, provide nutrition education, and strengthen the relationships between healthcare providers, community organizations, and local food systems,” Blood said of the program. “Eligible pregnant and postpartum women will receive a prescription to include produce in their diet, vouchers to purchase fresh produce, and nutrition education.” 

The grant is administered nationally by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is an agency within the HHS Department. 

“Good nutrition is foundational to good health,” Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Tom Engels said in a press release. “Through the new Maternal Produce Prescription Program, we are helping pregnant and postpartum women and their families get fruits and vegetables. Across HRSA, we are expanding access to nutrition services in health centers, strengthening nutrition support for people with HIV, and helping make nutrition a more integrated part of healthcare, including through telehealth. These are practical steps to help Americans live healthier lives.”