Tampa General Hospital and the city of Tampa, Florida officially welcomed residents to enjoy the benefits of healthy eating with support from a brand-new community garden and food pharmacy. The TampaWell Community Garden and Food Pharmacy, is located at TGH Family Care Center Healthpark, which serves one of the most food insecure neighborhoods in the region.
The TampaWell Food Pharmacy and Community Garden is built on the concept that “food is medicine.” With fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the adjacent community garden, patients have greater access to nutritious foods and the opportunity to learn how to grow healthy produce in a sustainable way. Patients at the TGH Family Care Center Healthpark diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension or obesity may request a referral from their primary care providers to select nutrient-rich foods from the food pharmacy, free of charge.
The TampaWell Food Pharmacy and Community Garden is made possible with the collaboration and support of community partners, including the Feeding Tampa Bay Food Rx Program and the Tampa YMCA Veggie Van Produce Prescription Program. Eligible patients will also have the opportunity to participate in the Tampa YMCA’s evidence-based health initiatives, Diabetes Prevention Program or Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, as appropriate, as well as community-based nutrition and healthy eating classes.
